By Mariam Adams
The Kogi State Government is exploring innovative waste management solutions capable of transforming waste into economic value, creating employment opportunities and strengthening environmental sanitation across the state.
The development followed a visit by Stratus Consult Limited to the State Ministry of Environment and Ecological Management on Monday, where the company presented a proposal for an integrated waste management system covering waste collection, transportation, sorting, recycling, treatment and final disposal.
Speaking during the presentation, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Stratus Consult Limited, Prince Xavier Eyamba, explained that the proposed system was designed to build an integrated value chain in which waste collection, processing, recycling and final disposal would function as interconnected components.
He highlighted opportunities for converting waste into useful resources through plastic recycling, organic waste treatment, biogas production and waste-to-energy, with potential benefits for environmental protection, job creation and revenue generation.
Among the solutions presented were the deployment of strategically located waste bins, electric cargo tricycles for waste collection and digital monitoring tools to improve the coordination, tracking and oversight of waste management activities.
The company also proposed approaches to strengthening the waste management value chain by rehabilitating existing waste-related facilities and integrating informal waste pickers into more structured recycling and collection activities.
Responding to the presentation, the Commissioner for Environment and Ecological Management, Engr. Joseph Oluwasegun, said the Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo-led administration remains committed to strengthening environmental sanitation and exploring sustainable approaches to addressing waste management challenges across the state.
He stressed the importance of building on existing waste collection operations rather than treating collection as an entirely new activity, noting that effective coordination, adequate infrastructure and appropriate policies would be essential to achieving a functional integrated waste management system.
The Commissioner called for further examination of the proposal, particularly its technical feasibility, infrastructure requirements, financing structure and implementation framework, assuring that the Ministry would continue to engage with relevant stakeholders in exploring practical solutions that align with the administration’s environmental priorities.
The engagement is part of the Kogi State Government’s broader efforts to identify practical and sustainable approaches to environmental management, while creating opportunities for innovation, enterprise development and improved public sanitation.
Through continued stakeholder engagement and careful consideration of viable solutions, the Ododo-led administration is strengthening efforts to build a cleaner, healthier and more environmentally sustainable Kogi State.
