The senior special assistant to Governor Alex Otti on due process, Oluebube Chukwu, says the Abia government has adopted private sector participation to build an efficient waste management system in the state.

In an interview on Saturday, Mr Chukwu said including the private sector in building a sustainable waste management system was to create a healthier environment and better life for the citizenry.

The Abia government on June 23 invited bids from the private sector operators for collaboration in its waste management initiative in Aba and Umuahia.

The governor’s aide said the process of engaging the private sector participants would be in phases and that the first phase was concluded on Wednesday.

He said the winners of the bids had been selected and grouped into preferred, reserved and second-reserved bidders categories.

“The preferred bidders, being the winners, are currently receiving notifications to a meeting, and their letters for engagement are under review and will be served on each of the six preferred bidders.

“In the new week, they will be getting those invitations to a meeting, where the offer letter will be shared, and the service benchmark will be discussed with them,” the governor’s aide said.

Mr Chukwu further said the Otti-led administration, upon assumption of office, declared a state of emergency in the environment sector, with emphasis on waste management in the state.

“The idea of this private sector participation is primarily meant to get water in public areas completely sorted, create employment for our people, boost the economy of the state, and contribute to cleaner and healthier Abia,” he said.

Mr Chukwu also said the emergency task force created to handle waste disposal would cease to function for the private sector participants to take over and further drive the administration’s rebuilding agenda.

In a related development, the Commissioner for Environment and Urban Renewal, Philemon Ogbonna, expressed satisfaction with the turnout of residents for the monthly sanitation exercise.

Also, the general manager, Abia State Environmental Protection Agency, Ogbonnia Okereke, said the agency had strategically positioned refuse collection trucks to ensure the waste generated during the exercise would easily get cleared.

(NAN)