Date: 2016-06-02

In view of the indiscriminate dumping of refuse in major towns in Kwara State in recent times, the State House of Assembly has resolved to midwife the process of restoring the status of the State as one of the cleanest States in the federation.

To this end, the legislature has mandated its Committee on Health and Environment to convey a stakeholders' consultative forum that will include all members of the House, Traditional and Opinion Leaders, Local Government Chairmen, relevant Government agencies and other stakeholders with a view to proferring enduring solutions to the problem of waste management in the State.

This followed a motion on notice on "Dumping of Refuse on Roads in Major Cities in Kwara State" sponsored by a member representing Ilorin North-West constituency Hon. Abdulrafiu Abdulrahaman and co-sponsored by members representing Irepodun, Owode/Onire, Kaiama/Kemanji/Wajigbe Constituencies respectively Hons. Matthew Babaoye, Abdulrasheed Taiwo Abdullahi, and Ahmed Ibn Mohammed.

The Deputy Speaker Elder Matthew Okedare while presiding over the sitting explained that the House resolved to midwife the process of finding an enduring solution to the problem of waste management in the State in view of the current precarious financial predicament bedevilling all the three tiers of Government on the country.

The prime mover of the motion Hon. Abdulrafiu Abdulrahman had while sponsoring the motion noted that the rapid population growth, urbanisation and sprawling settlements in Ilorin and other major towns in the State had resulted in increase in solid waste generation and the wastes according to him are indiscriminately littering major road medians thereby becoming breeding grounds for bacteria which could result into outbreak of diseases.

He said the advent of commercial waste management in some parts of the State Capital was a welcome development but insisted that some indigenes in traditional settlement areas may not have the capability to cope with the monthly payment often charged by the affected waste disposal agencies.

Other members who spoke on the motion described waste management as a herculean task which requires the input of all stakeholders in addressing the problem.

They equally enunciated that Government cannot totally hand off its social responsibility in waste management and therefore advocated the establishment of refuse disposal points and provision of Roro bins where necessary.

The Committee has four weeks within which to submit its report.

The House also at its sitting resolved to commend the Kwara State Government for its prompt rehabilitation of Ohan bridge along Ilorin-Kishi-Kaiama road following a motion without notice raised by a member representing Kaiama/Kemanji/Wajibe constituency Hon. Ahmed Ibn Mohammed on the rehabilitation of the bridge.

It will be recalled that the House in its resolutions had called on both the State and Federal Government to provide palliative measure and a lasting solution to deplorable Ohan bridge,to facilitate vehicular and movement of agricultural products.