Makinde Commissions Awotan Landfill
Governor ‘Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, on Thursday, commissioned the Awotan Landfill Project and also unveiled the Clean and Green Waste Trucks.
The governor said the the projects were aimed at improving environmental and social well-being of residents of the state.
Makinde, said this while speaking at the commissioning and unveiling ceremony, held at the Awotan Landfill, Akufo Road, Awotan, Ibadan, said the projects will provide job opportunities for self-reliance to 3,000 residents of the community.
The governor, in a statement by his media aide, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, equally pledged to fix the Awotan Health Centre, adding that the state government had the plan to have one standard health care facility in every ward of the state.
He said: “When we were confronted with the issue of waste in Oyo State, we had two main choices. One, a quick fix, which could have happened sooner, or a more complex and far-reaching solution, which would take some time. As you can see, the video clip we just watched is quite complex.
“The quick fix would have just meant that we are just kicking the ball further down the road. Sometimes in the future, we will, again, be confronted with the issue of waste disposal.
“Maybe then, it will be another administration that will deal with it but we would have gone away with the tag of ‘Architect of Modern Oyo State.’
“One, those who live near this dumpsite, the nearest settlement is just about 200 meters away from where we are right now, would have had to continue dealing with their groundwater contamination and their water will have remained unsafe for them to drink.
“The Baale of Awotan has asked us to fix the health centre here and I want to assure you that we will do it. We already put a plan in place to have one standard health care facility in every ward in Oyo State and we will have 351 of them.
“Secondly, they would have continued to live with the stench coming from this dumpsite. The multiplier effect is that those who have properties for rent around here would have a hard time letting them out and, of course, I have spoken about the health implications as well.
“As a matter of fact, when I met some people here, they said they abandoned their houses here and relocated to the city but, the good news is, they are coming back now.
“I want to acknowledge the immense contribution of our late compatriot and former Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Honourable Kehinde Ayoola. He did all the planning and groundwork to make sure that this project turns out as it is today.
“May the good Lord continually be with his family. Let me also thank the current Commissioner for Environment, Barrister Idowu Oyeleke, for seeing the project to a logical conclusion.
“So, as I said earlier, we decided on the second option. Yes, it took more time, which meant that people complained about refuse disposal for a little longer but we knew that when we accomplish what we set out to accomplish here, the result will be glaring to all.”
Governor Makinde maintained that the success of the landfill project has led to the creation of massive job opportunities.
According to him, 500 private companies have been registered for refuse collection, with each of them expected to recruit at least six people, including drivers and refuse packers.
“We are standing on the ground now and we can see everywhere. So, apart from this environment, the total rehabilitation of this landfill resulted in engaging over 500 registered private companies in refuse collection.
“Each of those companies will employ at least a driver, a number of packers and others. If you multiply six by five hundred it will give you 3,000 direct jobs.
“Also, about 50 people worked here as scavengers and I don’t think they will continue to scavenge again, because there will be a rise in their take-home.
“They will be staying here now and those who need whatever they separate will have to come down and buy from them here.
“So, these individuals who worked on this project; contractors and others, we appreciate their efforts and the resultant effect is that we have more funds into Oyo State’s economy.
“Now that the site is completed, what is next? The benefit of upgrading this dumpsite is immense. We are all breathing easily right now.
“The last time we came here, we discovered that access will be a challenge. We had to look for an alternative route.
“The Apete-Awotan road is less than 1,500 metres and once you pass this place further down to Akufo junction, the traffic will be less.
“So, in less than six to eight weeks, the problem of access to this place will have been completely solved. And another added sweetener is there is methane gas under here, which will be converted to electricity that will in turn be used to install street lights around here.
“We will provide the street light and this place will provide the gas that will be used to generate electricity for that purpose,” the governor added.
The governor further said, with the success of the project, the newly -launched waste management architecture in the state has begun on a sound footing, adding that there will be less refuse on the streets of Ibadan, the state capital.
He said: “Finally, we will have less refuse on our streets because the contractors will be paid per kilogram of debris they bring here. It means anyone that did not collect waste will not get paid.
“Of course, knowing how much each of the registered companies spend acquiring the trucks and other equipment to work with, they will want to recoup their investment.
“So, they will keep going out to pick up the waste. Suddenly, the waste is now like Gold. This, of course, will translate to economic benefit to Oyo State.
“The more refuse we get here also the better for our waste to wealth initiative. Apart from the gas, some came and said they can convert the waste to fertilizer.
“So, we will encourage them. If there is an access road to get here to come and do what they have proposed, it is also for the benefit of the residents here. So, you can see that the Clean and Green is a total municipal waste system solution.”
The contractor of the project and CEO, Messers Macpresse West African Limited, Alhaji Idowu Salawu, said the Awotan landfill is characteristic of any landfill in the world.
He added that history was made because the 50 scavengers, who have been working at the site could not be sure of Material Recovery Facility (MRF) that will handle 50 tonnes waste material every day and increase their income.
He said: “Another good thing that we have derived from here is, before we completed this project, we had been receiving commendation from the residents of this area.
“What we did here is purely scientific. The gas component here can power 1megawatt of electricity on 1 hectare of land. So, since we have six hectares here, we can generate 6 megawatts of electricity.
“On renewable energy, we will partner with LAUTECH for them to use this place as the practical aspect of the department the government recently created.”
In his remarks, the Alawotan of Awotan, Oba Dauda Omotosho, appreciated Governor Makinde for making lives meaningful to all the residents of Awotan community and creating an environment that will be habitable for them.
He added that the Awotan community “has never had it this good,” saying the Makinde-led administration has taken the dividends of democracy to their door step.
