Kwara scales up environmental protection with new waste management equipment
• State launches 70 Roro Bins, 5 waste trucks
By Mahmood Olayinka Alaya
The Kwara State Government has advanced its commitment to a cleaner and healthier environment with the official launch of 70 roll-on-roll-off (roro) waste bins and five waste disposal trucks.
The equipment, procured under the World Bank-supported Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project, is aimed at promoting environmental sustainability and institutional capacity-building.
The launch ceremony, held at the Ministry of Environment headquarters in GRA, Ilorin, was presided over by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, represented by the Commissioner for Environment and Chair of the State ACReSAL Steering Committee, Hajia Nafisat Musa-Buge.
Speaking at the event, the Governor described the acquisition as a major step toward a more sustainable and hygienic Kwara.
He emphasized the importance of a strong maintenance culture to ensure the longevity and efficiency of the equipment.
“I congratulate everyone on reaching this milestone. We are committed to doing even more to improve the waste management system in our State,” he said.
The Governor announced that the Ministry will immediately deploy the new equipment, comprising three dyno trucks, two compactors, and the roro bins across key communities.
In her remarks, Hajia Nafisat Buge thanked Governor AbdulRazaq for embracing the ACReSAL initiative and approving the procurement.
She noted that the intervention would significantly enhance the Ministry’s capacity to manage waste.
“One of ACReSAL’s key components is institutional strengthening. With these trucks and bins, our operations are now better positioned to deliver improved results,” she said.
She also referenced other ACReSAL initiatives underway in the State, including the distribution of tractors and farm inputs and the ongoing renovation of five waterworks. She called on citizens to take greater responsibility in waste management, emphasizing that environmental protection is a shared duty.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Ayinla Abubakar, praised the Governor’s commitment to a cleaner Kwara.
He recalled that Ilorin was recently ranked fourth among Nigerian cities for environmental cleanliness, according to a StatiSense analysis, and said the State now aims for the top spot.
The event was attended by several top officials, including the General Manager of Kwara State Environmental Protection Agency (KWEPA), Mr. Jide Aina; Senior Special Assistant on Environmental Protection, Hon. Muazu Muhammed; Senior Special Assistant on Grassroots Sensitisation, Hon. Isiaka Yakubu Agodi; and other directors from the Ministry.
State Project Coordinator for Kwara ACReSAL, Alhaji Shamsideen Aregbe, who led members of the State Project Management Unit (SPMU) to the launch, expressed gratitude to the Governor for integrating the procurement of the waste equipment into the project work plan.
The General Manager of KWEPA and the Senior Special Assistants commended the Governor’s visionary leadership and urged responsible use of the equipment by operators and residents alike.
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