The celebration of the World Environment Day last Sunday has put into perspective the Clean and Green revolution of Anambra State by Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo. The global event presented a platform for the Governor to practically demonstrate his passion for a green environment by planting a symbolic tree and call on the people of Anambra State to plant one million trees annually.
A fundamental crux of the Clean and Green Drive is the government’s new policy on waste disposal and management. An invitation to service providers to bid for dealing with the refuse collection bugbear is already on the front burner. The ball is now in the court of experienced waste contractors in the state to send in proposals on effective means of solving the issue.
The invitation to capable contractors is in line with Governor Soludo’s vision of making Anambra a livable and prosperous homeland. This is geared towards putting an extensive plan in place for the implementation of a house-to-house collection of waste products. It will also entail a robust monitoring system for all waste collection and disposal processes.
The all-encompassing project will intervolve workable measures for solid waste collection and disposal, recyclable materials, collections and processing. According to the plan in place, one contractor is required in each of the constituencies in the state, except Idemili North, which would require two contractors. The documents to be submitted are to show the service rates per month quoted for each of the indicated zones.
A June 2022 timeline has been established for proposals submission, public hearing on contract documents, and consideration of contract award letter.
The government, in conjunction with the management committee of Anambra State Waste Management Agency (ASWAMA), will duly provide contractors access to all dumpsites, provide waste bins for managing daily house-to-house collection of waste, determine contractor service fees and other fees related to waste collection levies. The monitoring of the activities of contractors is a clear measure to ensure the workability of the project in the spirit of the Solution-Is-Here fervor taking firm roots in Anambra State today.
It is in the books that the contractor shall be responsible for waste collection and evacuation, and assist the state in the distribution of payment demand notices in their designated locations, as well as engage road sweepers.
One of the unconditional requirements for the proposals is a letter of transmittal briefly outlining the contractor’s understanding of the work, and general information regarding the company and its staff that will be engaged.
Another requirement is a notarized statement of contractor qualification containing certificate of incorporation, company’s organogram, background and experience of the management company, summary of the company’s history including years in the business, experience of delivering similar projects, list of major equipment available to execute the project, list of work awarded to the company that was not completed or any contracts that were in default, bank reference and two years financial statement, and a signed and dated statement by the company and a notary of the public recognized in the state.
There are critical criteria for selecting waste evacuators contractors such as the inspection of basic waste collection and evacuation equipment including trucks, pail loader, compactors, excavators, swing-arm, etc. At least three months working capital must be guaranteed. The final turn of the dice is, at the very least, three years of waste collection and evacuation experience.
Given the strict primacy of professionalism as enshrined by the Anambra State Government, proposals submitted late will not be evaluated. The competing proposals will be opened, read out loud and distributed to the committee for review and subsequent recommendation. The formal action by committee members will follow.
The successful contractors will be engaged as Service Level Providers in line with a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to be drawn between selected successful applicants and the state government. Of course the state government reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal or waive defects or irregularities in any proposal. Any alteration, erasure or interlineations of the contract documents thusly renders the proposal irregular and will be subject to the committee’s decision or outright rejection.
The new waste disposal and management project put in place by the government is a total departure from the former process in which waste almost always takes over the streets after every disposal. Through sustained monitoring, the new contractors will ensure that every street is spick and span. The dumpsites that used to be travesties will now wear new looks.
The revered mantra of cleanliness is next to godliness is back in town. With waste disposal and management being appropriately addressed, the Anambra Clean and Green Revolution is shooting off on a sound pedestal. The raising of awareness on the protection of the environment is an ongoing task that has earned multiform buy-ins. In due course, Anambra State is poised to be one city-state of clean gardens and sprawling greenery.
Written by SIR PAUL NWOSU
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