The Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAM) said on Thursday that its members have invested more than N3 billion in vehicle acquisition to enhance wastes collection in Lagos State.

Mr Olabode Coker, the Chairman of the association, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

According to him, the investment is one of the association's efforts to ensure the recapitalisation of its members businesses.

“Through the collective efforts of the executive council, arrangements were made for our members to recapitalise.

“The effort resulted in Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc., having a special programme for Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators to obtain loan to buy trucks.

“So far, 45 members have obtained the loan to buy new trucks to improve their waste collection service.

“We are looking forward to more members having access to the loan.”

Coker identified poor access to funding as one of the challenges confronting waste managers.

He also lamented that the Lagos State Government owed its members more than N40 million.

The chairman said that members have being operating without being paid by the government for its services, saying that it had not been easy for the operators.

According to him, members have contributed to reducing unemployment through direct and indirect employment.

He, however, promised that AWAM would continue to maintain cordial working relationship with the state government through the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).

While pleading with the government to release the money owed its members, Coker enjoined its members to continue to improve their service delivery to the customers.

“Our success is largely dependent on our customers.

“I recognise that we have some bad payers, it is, however, difficult to enforce payment when our services are erratic.” (NAN)

•Photo shows waste truck.