Oyo State Government warned of sanctions against at least 20 waste management consultants who had failed to fulfill their contractual obligation of cleaning up the state. Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Arc. Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola, issued the warning on Sunday after a meeting with the consultants in Ibadan. He was dismayed that they failed to dispose of waste as stipulated, leaving major roads in the state capital littered with trash for months.
Mogbonjubola reaffirmed that the state government contracted waste collection services to supply a healthy and clean living environment for the citizens but supplemented that contractors have failed to live up to their promise.
Therefore, the government has undertaken comprehensive review and renewal process of the waste management contracts with a view to improving the delivery of service as well as compliance with the environmental law. The review that was conducted within two days at the Ministry’s Conference Room in the Secretariat, Ibadan focused on the main performance indicators, namely:
- Operational efficiency
- Financial compliance
- Regulatory adherence
- Innovation and sustainability
- Transparency in service delivery
The commissioner clarified that the review is not a witch hunt but a necessity to address public concerns and optimize waste management services. To oversee the process, a mini-committee has been formed to conduct thorough reviews and recommend whether contracts should be renewed on revised terms or renegotiated for better performance.
Mogbonjubola also reiterated the government promise to modernizing waste management through innovative technologies like smart waste bins, digital monitoring systems, and more recycling programs.
“I must say that I am disappointed with the poor performance of waste contractors. For the past two months, rubbish has been piling up on the streets, and nobody has come to clear it,” he lamented.
He assured the people that the government of the state is determined to enacting stricter waste management regulations to render Oyo clean and habitable.
