THE Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has commenced a strategic stakeholder engagement with the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN) to reform the Private Sector Participation (PSP) waste collection sector.
This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Mukhaila Sanusi, Director Public Affairs LAWMA, and made a available to newsmen on Saturday in Lagos
The statement said the initiative sought to develop a comprehensive roadmap for a more sustainable, accountable and high-performing waste collection system capable of meeting the needs of Lagos, one of Africa’s fastest-growing megacities.
It said the engagement, held recently at the LAWMA headquarters, Ijora-Olopa, was themed: “Building a Sustainable, Accountable and High-Performance PSP Sector for a Cleaner Lagos.”
It added that the engagement brought together the leadership of LAWMA and executives of AWAMN to review the state of waste collection services, identify operational challenges and develop practical solutions.
Speaking at the meeting, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to working with PSP operators to build a modern, resilient and citizen-focused waste management system.
Gbadegesin said the engagement marked the beginning of a collaborative reform process designed to ensure that the eventual programme reflected operational realities and the perspectives of stakeholders.
“Our objective is to build a waste management system that is efficient, transparent, financially sustainable and responsive to the needs of Lagos residents.
“We recognise the critical role played by PSP operators and believe that meaningful reforms can only be achieved through continuous engagement, shared responsibility and collective commitment,” he said.
He said the process would focus on strengthening the efficiency, sustainability and competitiveness of the PSP sector.
The stakeholders identified several priority areas, including performance-based regulation, route rationalisation, financial sustainability, payment compliance and fleet renewal.
Others are technology-driven service monitoring, enforcement against illegal waste operators, improved landfill operations, recycling and resource recovery.
The reform agenda will also address customer service standards and stronger institutional governance across the sector.
To advance the process, the meeting resolved to establish joint technical working groups comprising representatives of LAWMA and AWAMN.
The groups are expected to refine proposals, identify data requirements, develop implementation options and submit recommendations for the final reform agenda.
Speaking on behalf of PSP operators, the President of AWAMN, Dr Olugbenga Adebola, welcomed the initiative.
Adebola described the engagement as an opportunity to strengthen collaboration between the regulator and operators and pledged the association’s full cooperation throughout the consultation process.
He expressed confidence that the participatory approach would produce practical and sustainable reforms that would improve service delivery and support the long-term growth of the sector.
LAWMA said the engagement was also aligned with the vision of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to build a cleaner, healthier and more resilient Lagos through stronger public-private collaboration and institutional reforms.
The authority said it would continue to engage stakeholders as the reform process progresses toward the development and implementation of the final roadmap.
M.P
Tags: LAWMA PSP reforms
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