In a bid to improve the Waste Management and Transportation system in the State, Members of Lagos State House of Assembly, during plenary on Monday, unanimously approved the ratification of two concession agreements.
The two concession agreements approved are between Lagos State Government and Zoomlion Nigeria Limited and the Issuance of an Irrevocable Standing Payment Order (ISPO) on Lagos Waste improvement programme-solid waste solution; also the concession agreement between Lagos State Government and TSL Metroline limited and the Issuance of a no objection letter for Irrevocable Direct Debit Order in favor of TSL Metroline under the concession agreement for the procurement and operation of two thousand 2,000 CNG buses.
This is a sequel to the report presented by the Chairman of the 4-Man Ad Hoc Committee, Hon. (Engr.) Yishawu Gbolahan. He stated that, pursuant to its oversight and ratification mandate, the committee critically examined the proposed agreements.
He stated that the arrangement intended to enhance waste processing efficiency, recycling and disposal services, promote environmental sustainability, improve public health outcomes and create more jobs and economic opportunities for Lagos residents in line with the State’s environmental policy objectives and international best practices.
It also aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the public transportation system on Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority LAMATA designated routes.
Presenting the recommendations, Gbolahan urged that the concession arrangement be ratified only with strict legal safeguards, including clear provisions addressing ambiguities and discrepancies, with Lagos State laws referenced throughout the agreement.
He further stated that any future expansion of scope, facilities, or waste coverage must require prior notification and approval of the House. He also recommended that environmental and social impact assessments be conducted periodically, with clear greenhouse gas reduction targets and timelines included in the concession framework.
On land allocation, lawmakers insisted that the size and location of any state land granted to the concessionaire must be explicitly stated, while overly broad provisions in land-use clauses should be redrafted.
The committee stressed that waste collection and transportation must remain the responsibility of existing Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators, while ZOOMLION’s role should focus on transferring waste from designated transfer stations to recovery facilities.
Other recommendations included strengthening workers’ health and safety protections in line with international best practices, broadening revenue accountability, and tightening monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure adequate state oversight.
On the financial structure, the committee raised concerns over the proposed ISPO arrangement, recommending that payment obligations be limited to seven years rather than creating automatic liabilities beyond the concession period.
Commending the committee for doing a thorough job, Hon. Bonu Solomon, is of the opinion that the CNG buses should be distributed equally to all the Local governments in the State.
Following the presentation of the reports, the House which presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa unanimously adopted the recommendations of the committee as the resolutions of the House.
