Waste management in Lagos and the scourge of sabotage

Since the advent of Vision scape, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s waste management brain box, there has been widespread agitations based on the cruel sight of refuse and horrible stinks, the antecedents of Lagos State government over time speaks volume of quality people oriented governance, this earned the government some endurance from the people but the limits soon got triggered as the gory sights got out of hands. Interestingly, almost every time, you see workers of the Visionscape company working their socks off diligently to evacuate people’s refuse, each time this happens, you see relief on people but with shadows of questions and doubts as to why an end seems not to be in sight to the strange pile of refuse in other areas which makes breathing a nightmare for residents.

The major grouse the people have with this new contractors range from not coming around on time to collect refuse until it becomes eyesore to appearing or having area preference whenever they decide to work, however, close observers have come to identify some unspoken factors in the struggles of Vision scape and Lagos waste management; the idea of a progressive governance led the incumbent government to ease out the old contractors and introduced a more agile and travelled group, in a bid to align with global best practices in the areas of waste management, the yearnings of the government however isn’t materializing as complaints from the people thickens, now you ask, what exactly is the problem? It became known to our observers over time that some of the members Association Of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAM) aren’t happy with the decision of the government to ease them out from collecting domestic waste from tenements thereby engaging Vision scape gives them reasons to do everything they can to frustrate the efforts of the new team and the government by extension, there’s only one word for this... sabotage!

Few days ago, news broke out that a group, The Concerned Stakeholders of the Association of waste Managers of Nigeria led by Afis Olasehinde Kasumu held a meeting of damage control and progress initiation with the government and the new operators, to show solidarity and to express their unalloyed and unequivocal support and commendation for the Cleaner Lagos Initiative and for the promulgation of the said law which will no doubt proffer a permanent solution to Waste Management in our amiable state.

The group also noted that it is worthy of accolade that the said law made a clear distinction between ‘Commercial Waste’ and ‘Domestic Waste’. By the provisions of the said law, the government of Lagos State assumed the duty of being in charge of Domestic Waste with Vision scape /Cleaner Lagos initiative.
They also thank administration for taking into consideration the absorption of investors like themselves and other PSP operators and that by the provisions of the same said law which protects their interest and stake by providing that they all remain in business by also retaining their old members/client/customers and also solicit for more within their operational area of coverage/zone.
The Concerned Stake holders of Waste Managers Association of Nigeria also offer to contribute their quota by supporting the Cleaner Lagos Initiative with an initial 35 refuse compactors which number could increase to 100 as they offer to mop up the black spots across Lagos State. The Group also stated that the wellbeing of Lagosians is utmost in their mind, and as we approach the raining season they cannot just allow to watch but also intervene to avoid epidemic, which is what the aggrieved group does not care about.
This kind gesture was warmly received and accepted by the Government, but to the surprise of many, a group believed to be aggrieved from AWAM, have come out to disown the group that is offering a helping hand, you must ask why? Are they angry with progress? Are they people oriented at all? Is this challenge a thing of pride and ego to them or service to the people? Speaking to our news agency, Afis Olasehinde Kasumu, who has been rendering unequalled outstanding waste management service to Lagosians for decades said it was the state of things that necessitated his group initiative to offer help and also collaborate with Vision Scape. He went further to say that the Vision Scape group see the operators as partners who will learn a lot from each other and they are willing to collaborate with the operators to make Lagos clean. He went further to say that they cannot afford to allow the cleaner Lagos initiative to fail, because if it does they will also be considered as failure, hence a need to take responsibility as a people oriented group to render service whether paid or unpaid; laudable to say the least and quite commendable, and any progressive would agree with him and his Group.

Change is inevitable, other aggrieved operators can collaborate to deliver service with Vision Scape without making drama out of it, it should be a collective joy to see people of Lagos living in comfort, you don’t wish failure on a vendor because you feel you can do better, and finally, it is unruly to attempt to pour cold water on the bravery and courage of the noble men who tried to swallow hurts and offer help, if we all contribute something, Lagos will work for us all by default.