The Jospong Group of Companies (JGC) has partnered with the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources in Lagos, Nigeria, to construct waste management facilities in the state. The waste treatment facility will play a crucial role in improving the environmental conditions of the largest city in Africa. An important agreement was solidified when the Jospong Group of Companies, under the leadership of Executive Chairman Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Honourable Commissioner Tokunbo Wahab of the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources in Lagos.
During his statement, Dr. Joseph, the JGC executive chairman, emphasised the company’s commitment to supporting Nigeria by offering assistance and knowledge in waste management and treatment. Lessons have been acquired from Ghana, with a desire to impart technical and operational knowledge to enhance the sanitation situation in Lagos State. The executive chairman committed the upstream operators and collectors in Lagos, promising to work together and provide the necessary equipment to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of their operations.
Lagos to enhance management through a public-private partnership drive.
Hon. Tokunbo Wahab, the Commissioner of the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources in Lagos State emphasised the state’s dedication to enhancing environmental services through a public-private partnership. A PPP agreement is being used to tackle the management challenges effectively. He pointed out that the plan involves finding new methods for transforming waste into valuable materials. The aim is to create a cleaner, more sustainable Lagos while promoting economic growth. This involves creating a supportive atmosphere for businesses to thrive in the city.
He advocated for the need for Lagos State to see the potential worth in its waste rather than simply discarding it. H.E Hajia Samata Gifty Bukari, the Consul General of the Ghana Consulate in Lagos, promised Jospong Group and the Lagos State Environment and Water Resources her full backing to guarantee the success of their partnership. According to the MoU, Jospong Group will create a Material Recovery Facility, set up Mobile Transfer loading stations, repurpose the existing Olusosun landfill, provide self-tipping tricycles, and build a facility for manufacturing bins and recycling plastic to enhance recycling processes.
Lagos produces 13,000 tons of waste daily, says Lagos agency.
Furthermore, implementing this effective and established eco-friendly approach to sanitation will significantly improve Nigeria’s carbon footprint, allowing the country to secure crucial funding for developing sustainable infrastructure projects. A recent report from the Lagos State Waste Management Agency reveals that the daily waste production in Lagos State amounts to around 13,000 tons. Inadequate sanitation can have severe repercussions, such as the transmission of waterborne illnesses, harm to the environment, and a disproportionate impact on marginalised groups within society, particularly women, children, and the elderly.
JGC has implemented 58 eco-friendly sanitation facilities in Ghana to handle liquid, medical, plastic, and municipal waste, along with 16 recycling and composting centres. The compost generated from these centres not only aids in agricultural growth but also contributes to the economy’s prosperity. The Jospong Group delegation was comprised of key figures, including Madam Gifty Boi-Bi-Boi and Mr. Emmanuel Otchere Okomeng, the advisory Board Members; Madam Gloria Boafo-Arthur Benneh, who is the head of legal; Madam Sophia Kudjordji, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer.
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Also, Mrs. Florence Cobbold, the Managing Director of Sewage Systems Ghana; the Managing Director of Waste Landfills Company Limited; Mr. Peter Dagadu, and several other members. The Nigerian delegation, headed by the Honourable Commissioner for the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, includes Mr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment; Mahamood Olakunle Adegbite, the Permanent Secretary of the Office of Drainage Services & Water Resources, Ing., the General Manager of Lagos State Wastewater Management Office (LASWAMO) Dr. Femi Afolabi, and the national executives of the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria.
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