PSP operators storm Lagos Assembly over Environmental Bill
The Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria, (AWAM) on Tuesday stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly protesting the new environmental bill before the House, claiming if their suggestions were not incorporated into the bill, it will jeopardise their business.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters who carried placards with various inscriptions such as; Don’t kill our business, Protect SME, Mr. Olalekan Owojori said the new investment the state government needed are in the area of dump sites and landfills and not collection and transportation.
According to Owojori, Lagos is dirty now because the dump sites and landfills are not enough while those available are in terrible state.
He claimed the state government is owing PSP Operators over N1B aside the 60 per cent they are entitled to just as what is charged clients has also been reduced arbitrarily.
He noted that operating under such unfriendly atmosphere is killing motivation and business beside affecting the ability to operate smoothly with good trucks.
Owojori disclosed that they returned to the Assembly less than a week they protested against the passage of the Environmental bill in the form it is at present, because they were both nervous and suspicious that the bill would be passed yesterday without recourse to their submissions.
He wondered why the Assembly is moving at a very fast pace in the passage of the bill, noting that the under three days the bill has passed through first and second reading and a public hearing.
The PSP spokesperson disclosed that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode met them once and it was not to hear their side of the matter but to inform them of his new plans. He said rather than listen to them, the Governor asked them to talk to the Commissioner for Environment.
