NAN-AE-15
Bills
By Chidinma Agu
Lagos, June 13, 2017 (NAN) The Waste Management Society of Nigeria (WAMASON) says it is advocating the passage of comprehensive waste management bills by the National Assembly.
The President of WAMASON, Prof. Oladele Osibanjo, said this on Tuesday in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
He said that this was because there were only few waste management regulations at the federal and state levels, adding that none of the laws could engender proper waste management across the country.
“WAMASON is a member of International College of Waste Management Association, which is based in Austria, and we want to promote global best practices in waste management in Nigeria.
“In doing this, there is need to create an enabling environment that will attract local and foreign investors to go into waste management and undertake it in a professional way.
“The society has presented two bills, Waste Management and Control Bill and Professionalisation of Waste Management Bill, before the National Assembly.
“The two bills will define the administration of waste management as well as its professionalisation in the country.
“The bills will also ensure a level playing field for potential investors.
“Investors will be assured that as they follow the best practices and invest in high-tech equipment, people would be mobilised to jettison indiscriminate dumping of refuse,’’ he said.
Osibanjo said that that the global waste management industry was worth over one billion U.S. dollars, adding that there was need to recognise the potential of the industry in the country.
He said that the bills would professionalise waste management, while empowering the people to invest in different kinds waste management ventures and contribute to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Osibanjo said that once the bills were passed into laws, the nation’s waste to wealth and waste to energy plans would become feasible and implementable.
He stressed that it was possible to have clean and healthy environment in all Nigerian cities, just like what obtained in European cities. (NAN)
ACA/IKU/OOK
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Edited by Tayo Ikujuni and Dayo Komolafe