By Mojeed Ajibola Adeyinka
A lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ibadan, Dr Abdulwasii Olabamiji Ajagbe has suggested pragmatic approaches by which the city of Ibadan can become the neatest in Nigeria.
The University Don who opined that there are three phases to Solid Waste Management viz; Generation and Storage, Collection and Transportation, and Treatment and Disposal, said that the indigenes of Ibadan could minimize waste products by making use of any wastes for another useful purposes.
Dr Ajagbe made this suggestion at the 28th Annual Arokodare Memorial Lecture with a title: Solid Waste Management in the City of Ibadan: A Pragmatic Approach, on Monday at Otunba Subomi Balogun Conference in the University of Ibadan.
Speaking further, Engr Ajagbe said government should also enlighten people more on the need to make the city clean and ensure the collection, transportation and disposal of the wastes are well managed.
“Government could manage the way wastes and refuses are found all around in Ibadan by having ambassadors among the popular radio stations, presenters, religious leaders, traditional leaders and transport workers. Each should make sure his domain is clean by sensitising the public and their members”, he said.
Dr Ajagbe who frowned at the inefficiency of some Waste Collectors in Ibadan, further suggested that the government of Oyo state should go for Public-Private Partnership Scheme so as to ensure more capable hands collect, transport and dispose the Solid Wastes.
“I used to know four dumping sites in Ibadan. But now, it seems to be only one. The one at Awotan. Some of these Waste Collectors therefore find it difficult to get to the dumping site and dump the wastes they collect on their way before they get to the dumping site. Government should look into this”, he added.
Dr Ajagbe who established that, Clean Ibadan Ambassadors (CIA), is an initiative to address the nonchalant attitudes of solid waste generators however said, evidence has shown that most educated and illiterates are ignorant of effective solid waste management and the negative consequences of its mismanagement.
“The CIA devolved the major responsibilities of managing solid waste at the generation and storage stage to the solid waste generators with the government giving supports in the area of enforcement and completion of the solid waste management process.
The ambassadors are notable and respected personalities in the city of Ibadan. They have significant numbers of solid waste generators under their leadership and, or influence”, he submitted.
Specifically, he said, the CIA with lofty objectives of regulating solid waste generation and subsequent management using non-structural methods, and reducing or minimizing solid waste generation by sentising the people of Ibadan, has three major arms: EcoVanguards, Media, and EcoMarshall.
“EcoVanguard club is a grassroot student-led group affiliated to the Clean Ibadan Ambassadors programme. EcoMarshall is a voluntary group for members of the public which would be coordinated by their jurisdiction. The media shall be the driver of the initiative”.
Also speaking at the event was the Commissioner of Works and Transport in Oyo state, Professor Daud Ogundoyin who promised that the government of Oyo state would take to some of the propositions of the guest speaker in addition to their efforts to militate against the pyramid of wastes in Ibadan.
“Oyo state government is known for tackling issues with three things: Data, Science and Logic. We will employ this triad to take into some suggestions of the Guest Speaker of the day”, he said.
In attendance were the Chairman of the occasion, the President of Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engineer Tasiu Saad represented by Engineer Ezekiel Odekunle, the Special Guest of Honour, Engr. Professor Abdulganiy Olayinka Raji, Chairman of NIMechE Ibadan Chapter, Engr Victor Ogunranti and a host of others.
There were Award presentations to the Guest Speaker, Special Guest of Honour and cash prizes to the best students in the department of Civil Engineering, University of Ibadan and the Polythenic of Ibadan received by Elizabeth Egunjobi and Lateef Rokeeb Ademola respectively.