Lagos re-engages 400 PSP operators
About 400 PSP operators are in talk with Lagos State government in a new deal, as the government look forward to restoring the state to a healthy environment.
The talk with the state government is to work out modality of waste collection and disposal in a new deal.
Recall that Ambode had earlier appointed the former General Manager, Lagos State Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, Dr. Ola Oresanya, as consultant to handle the new deal.
Vanguard reports that. the move by the governor, followed earlier directive by the State House of Assembly for Private Sector Partnership, PSP, to resume collection and disposal of waste.
The Assembly had last Thursday, ordered the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs, in the state to recall the PSP operators in their areas to go back to refuse collection with immediate effect. Lagos sets up special team to ensure efficient traffic control, compliance Ambode had appointed Visionscape Sanitations Solution, a company contracted to manage waste in the state with billions of naira already invested in the creation, before the initiative was thwarted by the lawmakers who denied any knowledge of the company’s existence in the state, let alone operation.
Ambode-led government therefore came under massive attacks and criticisms over the ineffective operations of Visionscape, in the face of growing refuse across the state.
In his reaction then, the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Visionscape, John Irvine, in a statement said: “We would like to believe that there is some misinterpretation of the statements being circulated, despite our continued efforts in meeting the performance matrices of our valid and subsisting contract. “We will nonetheless continue to fulfill the terms of our service contract in the face of a sustained negative sponsored media campaign, as well as persistent and systematic sabotage of our efforts and our assets. “We remain open to dialogue, levelling the competitive playing field and participating in a more inclusive process with all stakeholders in the environment.”
Sequel to this, Ambode had to seek Oresanya’s expertise, who left a very big mark that no one has been able to fill, as consultant to rescue residents from possible health risks. Therefore, Ambode set up a joint Committee, headed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello. Bello, by the powers vested on him, ordered the operators to return to status quo by embarking on “door-to-door” evacuation of waste across the state with immediate effect.
Vanguard
