OGWAMA: “Thank You For Sacking Abayomi Hunye,” Ogun Waste Vendors Commend Gov. Abiodun
The Ogun State chapter of the Association of Waste Management & Recyclers of Nigeria (AWAMRN) has commended the State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, for his prompt intervention in resolving issues between the association and the Ogun State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA).
Addressing newsmen in Abeokuta on Wednesday, the association expressed appreciation to the governor for what it described as a timely action that helped restore confidence among its members, who operate as waste vendors and recyclers across the state.
Speaking on behalf of the association, the Secretary, Pastor Olusegun Adetula, noted that the appointment of Alhaja Farouk Akintunde as the Managing Director of OGWAMA recently, has begun to improve relations between the government and operators in the waste management sector.
According to him, a meeting held with the new OGWAMA leadership recently provided an opportunity to discuss long-standing grievances affecting vendors and recyclers in the state.
The association said Akintunde assured members of the government’s commitment to addressing their concerns and had already begun implementing some corrective measures.
Among the steps taken, the group disclosed that the registration fee for vendors, which had reportedly increased from N5,000 to N25,000 under the previous administration of the agency, has been reverted to N5,000 following the intervention of the new management.
The association also alleged that the former leadership had issued operational licences to unregistered vendors without proper documentation, including tax clearance certificates, a development it said deprived the government of revenue and undermined regulatory procedures.
It, however, stated that the new management had initiated steps to review and revoke such licences.
The recyclers further revealed that discussions with OGWAMA also addressed the proliferation of unregistered waste vendors operating in the state.
According to them, the agency’s new leadership has pledged to establish a task force to monitor and curb illegal operators who compete with licensed vendors.
The association also welcomed the plan to reinstate quarterly stakeholder meetings between OGWAMA and industry operators, a practice it said previously helped address operational challenges but was discontinued in recent years.
Members noted that the renewed engagement and policy adjustments had begun to yield positive results, citing improved sanitation across parts of the state and the resumption of payments to Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators.
The association reaffirmed its support for the Ogun State Government’s development agenda tagged “I.S.E.Y.A.”
The association reiterated its commitment to working with the state government and relevant authorities to promote professionalism, environmental sustainability, and the welfare of registered waste vendors and recyclers in Ogun State.
