By Olasunkanmi Akoni
Recently, Lagos metropolis, in an unprecedented situation had been inundated with refuse heaps thereby posing serious health hazards to over 23 million residents.
The trend was, however, attributed to the unforeseen challenges in the transition period into the government’s new waste management policy called Cleaner Lagos Initiative, CLI.
To pilot the scheme, a new waste management company, Visionscape Sanitation Solutions Group, was contracted by the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode- led administration.
The Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Visionscape, Mr. John Irvine, in an interview with Vanguard spoke on plans by the company to tackle heaps of refuse in the state.
Irvine said: “The company is a different environmental firm. We are a global utility company. We do the umbrella of waste as we say. Why we are in Lagos was because we officially applied for an international tender that was placed by the state government to seek for an agency that would address residential waste collection in the state over a fixed term contract. And with our business model, we believe that we can deliver significant benefits to the state. And that was why we submitted our bid. And after several rounds of negotiation on the terms and conditions, we were awarded the contract by the state government to be the major collector of residential wastes in Lagos. We signed the contract in April 2017 and we have just started this January.
“To enable the contract to start, which is in different stages, it often takes 18 months gestation period. We spent the first 18 months on mobilisation of different segments of the contract. The first segment was initial mobilisation, which entails the surveying; the second stage is stabilisation, while the third is augmentation. And each of the segments takes between three and four months before full service is realised.”
According to Irvine, the company recently took delivery of 100 brand new vehicles into waste management fleet embedded with cutting-edge technology. The shipment consists of a series of waste trucks, from various rear end loaders to operational vehicles. The company has begun operations across the state, rolling out the next phase of contract for CLI.
The CLI was established to address, enforce and regulate the challenges in the solid waste management systems within the state.
The initiative is focused on improving the environment to make it cleaner, safer and healthier for all Lagos State residents, as well as developing operational efficiency. Visionscape is currently in a public-private partnership with the Lagos State Government, set to provide management services for the CLI, under the Lagos State Waste Management Authority, LAWMA.
Visionscape currently holds the residential waste collection contract for the State, and the management of three operating waste transfer loading stations, which are currently being renovated, under LAWMA. Visionscape have also begun construction of West Arica’s first engineered landfill in Epe. To-date, the company has successfully cleared over 1,000 litter black spots and illegal dump sites across Lagos State, as part of their pre-operational phase.
The company aims to reinvent waste management processes, specific to emerging market, utilising a highly- experienced team, cutting-edge technology, and tools to address the waste management needs of megacities. Visionscape also offers services for commercial, residential, industrial, and healthcare clients.
The Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Visionscape, Mr. John Irvine, in an interview with Vanguard spoke on the activities of the company to tackle heaps of refuse in the state.
About Visionscape
Irvine said: “The company is a different environmental firm. We are a global utility company. We do the umbrella of waste as we say. Why we are in Lagos was because we officially applied for an international tender that was placed by the state government to seek for an agency that would address residential waste collection in the state over a fixed term contract. And with our business model, we believe that we can deliver significant benefit to the state. And that was why we submitted our bid. And after several rounds of negotiation on the terms and condition, we were awarded the contract by the state government to be the major collector of residential wastes in Lagos. We signed the contract last April, 2017. And we have just started this January.
“To unable the contract to start, which is in different stages, it often takes 18 months gestation period, we spent the first 18 months on mobilization of different segments of the contract. The first segment was initial mobilization, which entails the surveying; the second stage is stabilization, while the third is augmentation. And each of the segments takes between three and four months before full service are realized.”
The post LAGOS REFUSE: How we’re transiting waste into next phase — Irvine, CEO Visionscape appeared first on Vanguard News.
from Vanguard News http://ift.tt/2BMSMGy
No comments:
Post a Comment