The House further mandated its Committees on Police, Army and Emergency and Disaster Preparedness to ensure compliance.
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Employment records hit 12,500 in three years of Lagos Recycle Initiative
By Moses Adeniyi
No less than 12,500 persons have been employed within the value chain of waste recycling in Lagos within the space of three years, the State Government has disclosed.
The three years period under review was September 2019 and September 2022 when the Lagos Recycle Initiative (LRI) was officially launched.
At the event by the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) to commemorate three years of Lagos Recycle Initiative (LRI), the Managing Director, LAWMA, Ibrahim Odumboni, made the disclosure, mentioning that the State has grown from the three official recyclers who formed the pioneering stakeholders as at September 5, 2019, to 157 registered recyclers in Lagos.
“What have we done since then? There were three official recyclers then (2019), but now we have over 157 registered recyclers in three years. We’ve also created job opportunities for over 12,500 persons in the last three years.
“We’ve also formalised recycling in such a way that we are now doing it with a lot of swagger.
“The values of recyclables have gone up from N15 on that day, (and) now, that same product is worth N150 – N170, not because of inflation, but because of understanding the value chain and the need for us to grow it,” Odumboni said.
He mentioned that by May 29, 2023, that the value would have appreciated to about N250 by projections, calling on Lagosians to optimise the benefit.
The LAWMA boss said efforts by investors have recorded daily processing of 4.5million plastic bottles out of Lagos and a corresponding recycled 4.5miilion bottles daily to manufacturers.
He said with engagement with stakeholders about 170 recycling centres would be established in the State before the end of 2023, warning all producers who have not joined the clean-up of plastic pollution in the State to act responsibly by keying into platforms created for same.
Other efforts the LAWMA boss mentioned were put in place within the three year period include: the introduction of the system to school curriculum with waste to wealth teachings; partnership with public and private stakeholders, among others.
Applauding the Governor Sanwo-Olu led Administration on the interest in recycling, he said the interest wasn’t for money but for sustainable environment.
He called on Lagosians to join the vision, stating that it was important for all to embrace the waste sorting system to operationalise and optimise the benefits of Waste to Wealth initiative.
Odumboni reiterated that from 1st October, the State Government would commence the enforcement of the waste bin directive demanding all households to possess and maintain a waste bin in their homes, mentioning that all defaulters risk prosecution.
He enjoined Lagosians to maintain a double sorting waste system of having a general a waste bin and a recycling waste bin.
“From the 1st October this year (2022), every household must own a waste bin. It is mandatory, it is a must, it is not negotiable. You just have to have a waste bin. It is in the law of the State.
“You must have a waste bin by 1st of October because if do not have, you will be served an abatement notice and then from the 4th of January (2023), you will stand to be prosecuted if you cannot provide an evidence of your bin. You have three months to sort yourself out to get a bin for your household,” the LAWMA boss said.
The President, Lagos Recyclers Association (LAGRA), Dr. Femi Adegoke, said the initiative as a fundamental development drive for waste to wealth has grown since 2019.
He said in line with the vision of zero tolerance for waste to protect the ecosystem, the initiative in three years has involved critical engagement, which has encouraged inclusion and expansion of waste to wealth value chain in Lagos.
According to him, the initiative has created empowerment opportunities while attracting international attention for investment in the State.
Applauding the State Governor, the State’s Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, and the LAWMA Boss for the stride in the initiative, he called on all to join the zero waste campaign to minimise waste menace through recycling system “for an efficient and sustainable circular economy.”
Speaking, the Managing Director, Polysmart Packaging Limited, Mr. Wasiu Balogun, said it was important for Lagosians to optimise the deliverables of the value chain.
He said it was important to monetise the waste to wealth value chain to solve poverty, stating that Lagos lose about N8 – N10billion annually for only pet bottles.
Speaking, the Director Public Affairs, Communication and Sustainability, Coca-cola, Nigeria, Nwamaka Onyemelukwe, said the recycling system works on collective responsibilities.
She said the campaign must be well driven across societal institutions, including schools for sustainable environment and wealth creation.
She called on all stakeholder to work with the Government to achieve the green economy initiative.
In his address, the Executive Director, LAWMA, Mr. Adekunle Adebiyi said the Agency with all stakeholders, are more determined to ensure that all efforts were “felt by residents across the length and breadth of Lagos State and most importantly the environment.”
“Lagos as a whole generates an estimated volume of 13,000 metric tons of waste daily. The daily influx of people from other states in search of greener pastures has resulted in high volume of waste generation with plastics accounting for about 17percent of this,” he said.
According to him, Indiscriminate and incessant littering of the environment with plastics have resulted to blockage of waterways and drainages, which sometimes result in flooding, destroying properties and affecting lives.
The trend, he said, has necessitated the need recycling system to convert waste to wealth.
“Most times plastic waste ends up in the ocean, polluting it, threatening ecosystems, killing biodiversity, and poisoning the food chain .
“If this trend continues, our living and livelihood will be in jeopardy and all the dumpsites will run out of space in less than five years’ time.
“Hence, the need to create value from waste through reuse, reduce and recycle so that we can decrease the volume of waste that goes to the dumpsite.
“In the recent time, the narrative is changing moving from straight line economy to circular economy where waste is seen as a resource in line with global practice,” he said.
Recall there was the launch of the BLUE BOX programme by the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led Administration, on the 5th of September 2019, in an attempt to harness opportunities that abound in the waste sector and to promote recycling through the distribution of colour coded thrash bags for sorting at source. The Bluebox programme metamorphosed into the Lagos Recycle Initiative (LRI).
The LRI involves the collection of recyclables from the point of generation with Community Recycling/drop off centers at different Local Government Areas/LCDAs with recyclers and aggregators assigned for collection of these recyclables.
The LRI harmonises all recycling programmes of LAWMA and bring together all key players in the production, utilisation, collection, buy-back and recycling of materials in Lagos State using the PAKAM APP.
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Cement price: Reps issue Dangote, BUA, others 14 days ultimatum to appear
The House of Representatives has issued a 14-day ultimatum to Dangote Cement, BUA, Lafarge Ashaka and other cement manufacturing companies in Nigeria to appear before it to make their submissions over the arbitrary increases in the price of the commodity nationwide.
The Chairman, House Committee on Solid Minerals, Mr Gaza Gbefwi, gave the directive at a public hearing to investigate the arbitrary increase in the price of cement in Nigeria by cement manufacturers, organised by House Joint Committees on Commerce, Industry, Special Duties and Solid Minerals on Tuesday in Abuja.
The PUNCH reported on March 13, 2024, that the House adopted a motion on the “Arbitrary increase in the price of cement by the cement manufacturers in Nigeria”, and constituted a joint committee to investigate and report back to it for further legislative action.
At the public hearing on Tuesday, none of the cement companies appeared or sent representatives to make submissions on their behalf.
Angered by the development, Gbefwi who represents Karu/Keffi/Kokona Federal Constituency, Nasarawa State, said the parliament was not in receipt of a court order restraining it from inviting anybody or companies for investigative purposes.
He said: “We are trying to see to the development of our country. Just as it was emphasized in the opening remarks, cement is to building what air is to every human being. In the human nature of the House, because we owe them a duty of care because they are equally Nigerians, we are giving them 14 days to make their submissions.
If not, as we have sworn to uphold the constitution, we will use everything within our powers to make sure that Nigerians are not taken for granted and are not exploited. We will not sit back while some companies declare billions in naira and dollars every day while our people can barely afford to get a decent roof over their heads.”
“We have seen in Lagos where you have Nigerians under the bridge and paying rent. Why? If this product was available, I do not believe we would go to that length. Moreover, God has given to this nation, resources in abundance. So, this joint committee resolves to give them 14 days from now, and not 14 working days but 14 days to make sure that they make their submissions and appear before this House,” he said.
Earlier in his remarks, the Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen, represented by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, pledged the readiness of the House to come up with appropriate legislation to encourage the industrialisation of the country.
He also assured the companies invited for deliberations not to see their invitation as a witch-hunting mission, adding that the parliament was only interested in assisting in resolving the challenges in the building sector occasioned by frequent hikes in the price of cement.
He said: “We are committed to collaborating with both cement manufacturers and end-users, believing this is the most effective way to improve the quality of life and standard of living for our citizens. We are also dedicated to enacting laws that prevent a recurrence of the factors that led to the current situation.
“Our goal is to inform Nigerians about the industry’s current state and collaboratively find solutions to navigate the challenges. The persistent rise in cement prices has had a detrimental impact not only on the building environment but also on the entire economy. Cement is a fundamental component used in construction projects like bridges, dams, houses, waterworks, and road infrastructure. This makes addressing this issue paramount.”
Quoting research by the African Development Bank, Kalu said there is a housing deficit of up to 16.9 million units, adding that Lagos, Ibadan, Kano, and Abuja, have a 20 per cent rise in housing needs yearly. The current total output in the formal housing sector is estimated at not more than 100,000 units”.
The Deputy Speaker asserted that bridging this gap requires affordable and accessible cement prices for both the government and the private sector.
“While factors like exchange rates have contributed to the price increases across various commodities, it is encouraging to see the positive results of the “Renewed Hope” administration’s policies under the leadership of Bola Tinubu. Notably, the naira has shown remarkable strength against the dollar in recent weeks, and Fitch Ratings, a global credit rating agency, recently revised Nigeria’s credit outlook to positive from stable”, he added.
Earlier in his welcome address, Gbefwi said that Nigeria has a high housing deficit of about 3 million units and a huge infrastructural deficit.
He stated: “Indeed the recent events that led to the skyrocketing of the price of cement in Nigeria has been worrisome and of great concern as it is inflicting untold hardship on Nigerians.
“To close this gap, both government and the private sector must be articulate and deliberate in putting the right policies and parameters in place that can promote, induce and or encourage development.
He added that the cost of cement is higher in Nigeria compared to other countries in Africa using the current exchange rate of the dollar to local currencies.
“Our review of cement prices in other countries like Kenya, India and Zambia for 2021 alone shows that Nigeria has the highest price of cement using the official exchange rates for each country. Nigeria’s price of cement doubles that of India at a difference of 69 per cent. Similarly, the price is 29 per cent higher than that in Kenya and 39 per cent higher in Zambia; hence the need for us to come together and find out why,” he added.
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Reps charge IGP, DSS to investigate Kaduna killings
The House of Representatives has called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the Department of State Services and heads of other security agencies to probe the recent killings of innocent Nigerians in Ambe in the Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Six persons were reportedly killed in Ambe, a settlement in the Arak chiefdom, on Sunday when gunmen invaded the community, shooting sporadically at innocent citizens.
At the resumption of plenary on Tuesday, the member representing Jemaa/Sanga Federal Constituency, Kaduna State, Amos Daniel via a motion on matters of urgent public importance noted that “At about 7 PM on Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Ambe, in the outskirts of Gwantu, Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State following the attack from two gunmen who arrived on two motorcycles at the birthday celebration venue of their aged father, killed six people and injured many.”
The lawmaker also noted that youths in the area summoned the courage to apprehend one of the gunmen with his motorcycle and later handed him over to soldiers on guard, adding that some of the victims of the attack are currently receiving treatment at the University of Jos Teaching Hospital.
The Peoples Democratic Party lawmaker further maintained that since the unfortunate incident, residents of the area have been left traumatized and unable to carry out their daily businesses in fear of the unknown.
Following the adoption of the motion, the House observed a minute silence in honour of the dead and called on the IGP to deploy more police personnel to secure the area.
It also urged the IGP, the military and DSS to go the whole distance to ensure that the culprits are arrested and brought to book, while also calling on the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and the National Emergency Management Agency to provide food and non-food items to the affected victims.
News
NNPC Ltd. reassures public with over 1.5bn litres of petrol
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd. says it has over 1.5 billion litres stock of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, which will last for over 30 days.
Mr Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd., said this in a statement on Tuesday.
The company called on motorists to shun panic buying of the product as the nationwide supply and distribution of PMS continued to improve across the country.
“In the filling stations monitored across several states, including Lagos and the FCT, the queues have since thinned out, a development that will keep improving daily in other states.
“The Company wishes to state that at the moment, it has over 1.5 billion litres stock of PMS, which is equivalent to over 30 days sufficiency.
“The NNPC Ltd. is also collaborating with relevant agencies, such as the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), labour unions in the sector and security operatives to address hoarding and other unwholesome practices,” he said.
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