LAGOS/Nigeria: In a significant stride towards addressing the pressing issue of waste management, the Lagos State Government has inked a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ghana’s JOSPONG Group. The agreement, signed on Monday, marks a pivotal moment in the quest for sustainable solutions to solid and liquid waste management in Lagos.
The MoU, endorsed by the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, and Executive Chairman of JOSPONG Group, Dr. Joseph Agyepong, aims to establish a Material Recovery Facility and Compact/Mobile Transfer loading stations. These facilities are geared towards alleviating pressure on landfills and mitigating waste accumulation at key areas like markets.
Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, speaking at the signing ceremony, emphasized the significance of the partnership in addressing the complex challenges posed by waste management in a rapidly expanding metropolis like Lagos. He stressed the government’s commitment to confronting these challenges and heralded the collaboration with JOSPONG Group as a transformative step towards a cleaner and more sustainable Lagos.
Highlighting the strategic pillars of the collaboration, Wahab underscored the importance of technology, advocacy, enforcement, and the promotion of circular economy innovations. These efforts, he emphasized, are integral to reducing the environmental impact of waste while simultaneously fostering economic growth and job creation.
Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, the Executive Chairman of JOSPONG Group, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the critical role of sanitation in public health, as outlined by Sustainable Development Goal No. 6. He reiterated the group’s focus on downstream waste management and pledged support to upstream operators through the provision of essential equipment.
Furthermore, Dr. Agyepong unveiled plans to supply 2000 tricycles to bolster waste collection efforts by the Association of Waste Managers in Lagos. The collaboration, he assured, would involve close coordination with Lagos State Government agencies like the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and Lagos State Wastewater Management Office (LSWMO) to ensure holistic improvement in waste management practices.
The event also saw commendations from stakeholders like Mr. Kunle Rotimi-Akodu, the Special Adviser on Environment, who lauded the Governor’s approval of the project and highlighted its potential to enhance cleanliness in the state. Dr. Tajudeen Omobolaji Gaji, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, expressed optimism about the transformative impact of the MoU, envisioning a future where waste management challenges become a thing of the past in Lagos.
The signing ceremony, attended by key figures including Lagos State Commissioners for Justice and Finance, as well as representatives from Ghana and the financial sector, marks a collaborative endeavor poised to reshape the waste management landscape in Lagos and set a new standard for urban sustainability.
