Waste managers in Lagos State have endorsed presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for a second term.
The waste managers, under the aegis of Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN), popularly known as PSPs, made the pledge at the Onikan Stadium during a mega rally organized by the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).
National President of AWAMN David Oriyomi said Tinubu brought established the PSPs in 1999 when he was governor of Lagos State, to tackle the challenges of waste disposal.
He said: “Tinubu nurtured and empowered us through the small-medium business model, and successive governments have built on his solid foundation. Lagos was transformed and received numerous accolades as one of the cleanest states in Nigeria and Africa.
“When our livelihood came under attack and 350 businesses were faced with the risk of bankruptcy, Asiwaju came to our rescue by speaking for us. Today, the small business model established by Asiwaju has been replicated in over nine states and other West African countries. It is for this reason that our association is fully and wholly committed to campaigning and voting for Asiwaju Tinubu as the next president of Nigeria.”
Oriyomi, who also recalled that AWAMN was the first group to endorse Governor Sanwo-Olu in 2018, said the association is pleased that he has ‘proven us right by the great work he has done in the state and for the environment’.
He pledged that the association would embark on door-to-door campaign to reach every nook and cranny of the state for Tinubu and Sanwo-Olu.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, who made a brief appearance at the event, pledged to increase the salaries of waste managers, especially of street sweepers. He urged them to vote for Tinubu, himself and other APC candidates for various positions.
Deputy Governor Kadiri Hamzat, who reiterated the governor, said: “Tinubu knows the way. We should get our PVCs and mobilise others to get theirs to vote for Tinubu and Sanwo-Olu. Let them know that it is Tinubu we are voting for. When he gets to Abuja, he will perform.
“Many states now have KAI, LAWMA and LASTMA. Tinubu is our teacher. On March 11, we should come out and vote for Sanwo-Olu.”
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Ibrahim Odumboni, said what has become AWAMN today has its foundation solidly laid by Tinubu many years ago.
“Since one good turn deserves another, it is only worthwhile that the association has mobilise its personnel in hundreds and thousands, for APC’s victory in next month’s elections. As an emerging mega city at the time, Lagos State needed to solve the challenge of solid waste management, which the administration of Asiwaju Tinubu as governor of the time, confronted frontally, leading to the emergence of the PSP operators,” he noted.
Odumboni added that through successive stages, they had evolved over time, wading through challenges, but ultimately leaving the environment and the cityscape the better for it.
Others at the rally were state APC chairman Cornelius Ojelabi; Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources Tunji Bello, Special Adviser to the governor on Drainage and Water Resources Joe Igbokwe, Ogun State Commissioner for Environment Ola Oresanya, among others.