The Kwara State Government has bolstered its environmental protection and waste management capabilities with the introduction of 70 new large-capacity waste bins and five specialised waste disposal trucks.
This strategic acquisition, a key component of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project, aims to foster a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable environment across the state.
The new equipment was unveiled today at the State Ministry of Environment Office in GRA Ilorin.
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Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq was represented by the Commissioner for Environment and Chairman of the State Steering Committee for ACReSAL, Hajia Musa-Buge.
He emphasised his administration’s commitment to improving waste management systems.
He urged diligent maintenance of the new assets to ensure their long-term benefit for the populace.
“I congratulate everyone for witnessing this milestone. We will do more to improve our waste management system in the State,” the governor stated through his representative.
The Ministry of Environment is set to immediately deploy the new fleet, which includes three dyno trucks and two compactor trucks, along with the roll-on-roll-off (roro) bins, to various communities across Kwara.
Hajia Musa-Buge expressed gratitude to AbdulRazaq for his engagement with the World Bank-supported ACReSAL Project and for approving the procurement.
She highlighted that institutional strengthening is a core objective of ACReSAL, and these new bins and trucks will significantly enhance the Ministry’s operational efficiency.
She also pointed out other recent ACReSAL initiatives in the state, such as the distribution of tractors and farm inputs to farmers and the comprehensive renovation of approximately five waterworks.
The Commissioner urged Kwara citizens to adopt a more responsible approach to waste disposal, stressing that environmental protection is a shared responsibility.
Ayinla Abubakar, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, commended Governor AbdulRazaq’s dedication to creating a cleaner and safer environment.
He recalled that Ilorin, the state capital, was recently ranked fourth nationally by StatiSense for cities with the best environment in Nigeria.
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Ayinla expressed the Ministry’s ambition to achieve the top position, buoyed by this latest addition to their operational resources.
The launch event saw the attendance of several key government officials, including Jide Aina, General Manager of the Kwara State Environmental Protection Agency (KWEPA); Muazu Muhammed, Senior Special Assistant on Environmental Protection; and Isiaka Agodi, Senior Special Assistant on Grassroots Sensitisation, among others. Alhaji Shamsideen Aregbe, the State Project Coordinator for Kwara ACReSAL, led members of the State Project Management Unit (SPMU) at the ceremony, reiterating his appreciation for the Governor’s consistent support for the ACReSAL Project.
