By Bilesanmi Abayomi
Residents of Kosofe, including Agboyi Ketu and Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), have expressed varying opinions regarding the services provided by community Public-Private Partnership (PSP) waste operators. While some have commended their service delivery, others have raised concerns.
The discussion about waste management in these areas was sparked by a recent tweet from a resident of Gbagada, Olutayo, who claimed that community waste collectors had not shown up for over two weeks, resulting in deteriorating cleanliness amid the rainy season. Some residents shared their frustrations, alleging that some service providers were solely driven by profit motives.
However, there were contrasting views from residents who praised the performance of their PSP waste service providers. Omoba Awofeso Rasheed from Oworonshoki and the reelected Kosofe Community Development Committee Chairman, Hon. Segun Babatunde, lauded the efforts of the PSP operator serving Olubori/Mosafejo community. They expressed satisfaction with the service delivery in their area.
Taiwo Lasisi Yusuf from Ojota defended the PSP service providers, describing them as proficient. He urged individuals and entities to fulfill their obligations towards the PSP operators, suggesting that any contrary view might arise from non-compliance.
Comrade Abdulwaheed Odunuga from Agboyi Ketu also appreciated the PSP Operator serving his community, specifically Agboyi Road and Environs. He believed they could perform even better if residents paid their bills promptly.
However, Fatoki Ayobode Kehinde, the Special Adviser on Environment to Ikosi Isheri LCDA, shared a different perspective. He referenced a recent publication by the Governor, which highlighted human factors and the ineffectiveness of PSP operators as contributors to the deteriorating environment.
Fatoki expressed concern that there was a lack of synergy between local governments and the PSP operators, emphasizing that operators should regularly report to the Environmental department of the local government for better business and effectiveness.
He also criticized the approach of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), noting that it often bypassed local governments and LCDAs, resulting in ineffective policies and initiatives. Fatoki suggested that using local councils as intermediaries could improve the implementation of government policies.
Furthermore, Fatoki highlighted a revenue loss for PSP operators and ineffective waste management despite significant state expenditure on their operations. He pointed out instances where residents opted for informal waste disposal methods, leading to environmental issues like flooding.