By Jovitta Iorshase
A private waste management company, NEBAT Global Concept Limited: Waste Management Solution Providers has communed in partnership with the Benue State Government, through the Benue State Sanitation Environmental Authority and the Benue State Ministry of Water Resources and Environment, to improve the poor sanitary condition of the state.
The partnership was sealed last Wednesday, with a Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony, between NEBAT Global Concept limited and the Benue State Government headed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources and Environment, held at the Ministry’s Conference Hall, Makurdi.
The Executive Director, NEBAT Global Concept limited, Nashima Jennifer Daniel-Bob Peters, in her keynote address maintained that, the Company is abreast with tasks concerning waste management and solution provision as well as a high level of commitment to service delivery.
“We as a company are solution providers, whenever we take up a task concerning waste management solution provision, we do not relent our hundred percent (100%) commitment. Our number one goal is to ensure that Benue State is cleaner, greener, healthier through this partnership, by maximising the three components of waste which are: the reduced, recycle and reused waste.
“NEBAT has come to complement so far the efforts of Ministry of Water Resources and Environment (MWRE) and Benue State Sanitation Environmental Authority (BENSESA) to put behind waste management problems like indiscriminate dumping of refuse on the median separators (road dividers) as soon as the MOU is signed and we commence service provision.
“Our soul tasks will include waste collection, transportation, sorting and possibly recycling in future, creating avenues to generate wealth from the waste, particularly from plastic waste which is the highest generator”, she explained.
She further promised to work closely with the Sanitation Agencies in the state, stakeholders, business owners ,Civil servants among others through campaigns, programmes and pledged not to let Governor Hyacinth Alia and entire state down but get Benue to a cleaner state.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Benue State Ministry of Water Resources and Environment, Alh. Ali Efu Suleiman, appreciated NEBAT for their partnership.
He informed that, the services of BENSESA remains as the Agency saddled with enforcement of Sanitation laws and the monthly Sanitation activities will also continue. A fine of Fifty Thousand (N50,000) will be paid by anyone caught disposing waste indiscriminately.
“BENSESA is still in place for enforcement of Sanitation laws, carrying out monthly Sanitation, prosecuting defaulters among other duties. The main task of NEBAT is managing/monitoring house to house disposal of waste.
“The public is supposed to pay little dues to the company for collecting waste at their door steps to enhance their work for a healthier, safer and cleaner state, and increase revenue generation of the state,” he said.
Alh. Suleiman further advised the NEBAT to listen the advice and seek help from BENSESA and MWRE to perform optimally. He also charged BENSESA to sensitize the state about NEBAT and called on residents of the state to support and cooperate with the company to succeed.
The Chairman, Nigeria Environmental Society (NES), Benue State Chapter, Dr. Timothy Ishi, in his remarks welcomed the development of privatizing waste management in the state, as he noted that waste all over the world was not a government affair alone.
Dr. Ishi pointed out strategic places to the company like the Makurdi International Road among others where the menace of dumping waste on median separators (road dividers) have been extended to and urged them to incorporate other waste management organizations to have a seamless waste management as most times service delivery becomes an issue after MOUs are signed.
“People expect efficient service delivery, when waste is paid for, so I advise you divide the town into sections to cover effectively. NES will always act as a watch dog to point out areas of concerns and give you the needed support to achieve your goal,” he stated.
The General Manager, Benue State Sanitation Environment Authority (BENSESA), Mr. Martins Tseume, in his remarks appreciated Governor, Hyacinth Alia for the laudable initiative to sanitize major towns like Makurdi, Gboko, Otukpo , Katsina-Ala among others in the state.
He said, the Governor’s commitment to a cleaner state is demonstrated by the recent formation of Sanitation taskforce to monitor activities of waste defaulters at night and early hours of the morning.
“A taskforce was formed on the 15th August to arrest residents disposing waste indiscriminately; such are taken to Area Command. We have tried but the poor mentality of the people has been a major challenge. However, with another organization now on board, we shall achieve our goal”.
Mr. Tseume, promised NEBAT the unalloyed support of BENSESA while appealing to them to do their best to save the state from the embarrassment of outsiders always coming in to see the state littered with waste.
High points of the ceremony were, signing and presentation of the MOU.
