Kaduna govt, ZL Global Alliance partner to empower ‘Almajiris’ through waste-to-wealth initiative – Gobroadsheet
(L-R… GM of KEPA, Yusuf Rigasa, Commissioner, Min of Environment, Shehu Balarabe Giwa and MD/CEO ZL Global Alliance, Abiola Bashorun at a launch of waste-to-wealth programme in Kaduna over the weekend. Photo by Techpro)#
//Environment, Kaduna, Northwest Nigeria/+/Godwin Ekosin//
Kaduna State Government is partnering with a Private Waste Management Company, Zoom Lion (ZL) Global Alliance to empower jobless youths including ‘Almajiris’ through waste-to-wealth initiative.
The initiative is set to reward sweepers and waste gatherers by a way of paying them N1.00 per kilogramme of waste, though a minimum of 10 to 25 kilogrammes, carefully conceded in sacks are expected per lot for easy payment and evacuation. The ZL Global Alliance train will be moving across the pilot cities of Kaduna and Zaria from 3pm to 6pm daily.
The pilot phase which is expected to commence on Wednesday, 14th September, 2016, will begin with two major cities of Kaduna and Zaria while it will be later extended to Kafanchan and other towns across the state.
Speaking on behalf of the State government at the launch of the programme in Kaduna over the weekend, Commissioner, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Shehu Balarabe Giwa, said the initiative, which was another effort of the government under the leadership of Governor Nasir El-Rufai to make Kaduna environment the cleanest and safest in the country, has multiple advantage of more employment and revenue for the State when fully operational.
According to the commissioner, the initiative will change people’s orientation about waste management.
“We as a responsive and responsible government will support initiatives geared towards our intention to make Kaduna State the best in all its developmental policies.
“We will support ZL Global Alliance at any point in term of your operation. This will change people’s orientation about waste management in our dear state as they will now be making money from waste they are generating.
“It is important to add that Kaduna, been a cosmopolitan state of such is experiencing influx of people on a daily basis. In line with this, the State government is working round the clock to see that both basic and extension responsibilities of the government are deliver to our people by a way of dividend of democracy”, added the commissioner.
He then called on the people in the State to make use of the opportunity to pack their waste very well in such a way that it will be easy for the waste managers to evacuate them from designated spots across the state.
Addressing environmental journalists shortly after the launching, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ZL Global Alliance, Mrs Abiola Bashorun said, her company is investing N1. 5billion in Kaduna State, quickly added that the state government is not setting up any special funds to execute the project apart from what has been captured in its budget for the ministry.
According to her, the company has strategically mapped out 37 collection points across Kaduna and Zaria towns to ease the dumping and collection of refuse.
She said the need for her company to invest that huge sum into waste management in the State became necessary owing to the fact that clean environment will save the residents from spending their hard earned resources on treatment of malaria, cholera, Lassa fever etc that may result from unhealthy environment.
“We want to engage some youths including those who people referred to as ‘Almajiris’to drive the initiative. We are going to train them the nitty-gritty of the job. We will also train them on how to manage their health before, during and after each engagement. We want everyone to join the state government and private partners to have clean and healthy Kaduna we all yearning for”, she urged.