Waste managers in Lagos State have endorsed All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for re-election.
The waste managers made the pledge at the Onikan Stadium during a mega rally organized by the Lagos State Waste Management Authority, under the auspices of the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN) (LAWMA).
According to David Oriyomi, National President of AWAMN, Tinubu established the PSPs in 1999, when he was governor of Lagos State, to address waste disposal challenges.
He stated:
“Tinubu nurtured and empowered us through the small-medium business model, and successive governments have built on his solid foundation. Lagos was transformed and received numerous accolades as one of the cleanest states in Nigeria and Africa.
“When our livelihood came under attack and 350 businesses were faced with the risk of bankruptcy, Asiwaju came to our rescue by speaking for us. Today, the small business model established by Asiwaju has been replicated in over nine states and other West African countries. It is for this reason that our association is fully and wholly committed to campaigning and voting for Asiwaju Tinubu as the next president of Nigeria.”
Oriyomi, who also recalled that AWAMN was the first group to endorse Governor Sanwo-Olu in 2018, said the association is pleased that he has ‘proven us right by the great work he has done in the state and for the environment’.
He promised that the association would go door-to-door in order to reach Tinubu and Sanwo-Olu in every corner of the state.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, who made a brief appearance at the event, promised to raise the pay of waste management workers, particularly street sweepers. He urged them to support Tinubu, as well as other APC candidates running for various positions.
Deputy Governor Kadiri Hamzat, echoing the governor, stated:
“Tinubu knows the way. We should get our PVCs and mobilise others to get theirs to vote for Tinubu and Sanwo-Olu. Let them know that it is Tinubu we are voting for. When he gets to Abuja, he will perform.
“Many states now have KAI, LAWMA and LASTMA. Tinubu is our teacher. On March 11, we should come out and vote for Sanwo-Olu.”
According to Ibrahim Odumboni, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Tinubu laid the groundwork for what is now AWAMN many years ago.
“Since one good turn deserves another, it is only worthwhile that the association has mobilise its personnel in hundreds and thousands, for APC’s victory in next month’s elections. As an emerging mega city at the time, Lagos State needed to solve the challenge of solid waste management, which the administration of Asiwaju Tinubu as governor of the time, confronted frontally, leading to the emergence of the PSP operators,” he noted.
Odumboni went on to say that they had evolved over time, wading through challenges but ultimately leaving the environment and cityscape better for it.
State APC chairman Cornelius Ojelabi, Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources Tunji Bello, Special Adviser to the Governor on Drainage and Water Resources Joe Igbokwe, and Ogun State Commissioner for Environment Ola Oresanya were among those who attended the rally.
