Contrary to the claims of the Ondo state government, a competent source at Ondo State Waste Management Authority (ODSWMA) has stated that the state capital, Akure, was rid of refuse all through the Yuletide by one of the environmental service providers, ZL Global, which was hired by the state government.
The ODSWMA had claimed it cleared the waste in the state capital during the Yuletide season.
Workers of ZL Global working
The source however explained that "contrary to the claim that ODSWMA officials kept the metropolis clean, what the senior official of the authority was saying is that the officials of the authority ensured that all service providers carried out their services even on Christmas Day and during the New Year."
According to the source, "It is a known fact that officials of ODSWMA do not pack refuse or remove bins from the streets anymore.
The Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu-led administration had from inception concessioned the keeping of the environment clean to private organizations.
"He took the decision for effective and prudent reasons. The state capital was divided among the concessionaires and this had helped a great deal in keeping the metropolis clean.
"ZL Global, which is headed by Dr. Abiola Bashorun, is in charge of the Oja Oba/Post Office axis, but we ensured their staffers packed the refuse generated by sellers and buyers in the market per time.
"The magnitude of the refuse generated during the season was huge, but just as the senior official said, we were on ground to help them enforce environmental laws to prevent people from dumping refuse in the median.
"The Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu-led administration had assisted immensely in making the residents obey environmental laws through sensitization programmes.
"Despite his tight schedule as the Chairman, Southwest Governors' Forum, he still has time to attend to other things including the environmental issues.
"The new Commissioner for Environment, Sunday Adekunle also hit the ground running as he moves round to see how the concessionaires are working. He commended the management of ZL Global for the yeoman's job they did during Yuletide."
The source also commended the efforts of the governor on ensuring the service providers are promptly reimbursed as and when due.
