By Kemi Olatunde

A seven member committee has been inaugurated to recover waste management equipment from Private Sector Participants (PSPs) who are in partnership with Ondo State on waste management.

The committee members who were inaugurated on Monday in Akure by the Environment Commissioner, Mr. Oyeniyi Oseni are; Chairman and Administrative Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mr Omotayo Akeju, Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Ogunleye, Mr Kunle Olajumbu, Barr. Damilola Akindutire, Barr. Stella Adegoke and Barr. Odunayo Subais.

Addressing the committee, Oseni explained that it is necessary to recover the equipment to ensure that the reform agenda of the environment Ministry is fully implemented.

He noted that 10 compactors, 10 side loaders, 3 brand new trucks which were donated to the state by Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and 1 Tractor among other equipment is been handled by a PSP stating that the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed didn’t ceed any truck to any partner adding that “we will continue to request for the equipment and recover those not seen on the street.”

He attributed the ineffective waste management in the state to the inability of officers to have equipment to work with stating that the Ministry is set to improve on its mandate to service residents through capacity increment.

While stressing the need to access the strength of the Ministry and also justify the reason for clamoring for new change, he noted that the PSP handling waste has 23 government equipment including within its jurisdiction noting that it has failed in the area of effective waste management.

The Commissioner who said that the committee has been put up to take eventory of equipment, know where they are and locate them, called on members to see the task as a call to service so that the state can have the capacity for appropriate intervention adding that it has been given two weeks to deliver.

He said; “Please do all it takes to ensure that our equipment are retrieved from our partner and other unknown people.”

Responding, Chairman of the committee, Mr Akeju assured of members’ commitment stating that “we will put due diligence in discharging our duty.”