Waste management vendors protest alleged extortion by Ogun govt official

By Adejoke Adeleye

Members of the Association of Waste Management Vendors and Recyclers of Nigeria, Ogun State chapter on Monday staged a peaceful protest at governor’s office Oke-Mosan Abeokuta, over what they described as persistent extortion, arbitrary levies and attempts to sideline long standing operators in the state’s scrap and recycling sector.

The protesters drawn largely from waste and scrap vendors attached to several companies across Ogun State, accused the General Manager of the Ogun State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA) and Senior Adviser to Governor Dapo on Waste Management Mr. Hunye Abayomi(AKA Semako) of imposing unbearable financial demands and bringing in favoured outsiders to take over their jobs.

President of the association, Mrs Opeoluwa Balogun said the group had operated under a long standing regulatory framework which required vendors to obtain an annual licence from the government at a modest fee.

“We already had a standard format on ground. At the end of every year, we obtain a licence and pay to the government.

The amount was ₦50,000, but when he came on board it was increased to ₦200,000. Since then, it has been levy upon levy, and it has become unbearable for us she said.

Opeoluwa alleged that the OGWAMA boss insisted that scrap vending was no longer meant for operators who had spent “30, 40, even 50 years in the system,” claiming the jobs were reserved for politicians.

He has been bringing his own people, particularly from his hometown, to frustrate our efforts and make life unbearable for us,” She added.

The vendors also complained that they were being compelled to pay licence fees months ahead of the normal registration period, without the issuance of tax receipts, contrary to established practice.

“He wanted us to pay in December, but normally when we register, we must present a tax receipt, which is not issued until the following year. He is forcing people to pay because he wants quick money,” a member said.

According to the association leadership , many vendors who paid the levies ended up without access to scrap materials, forcing them to borrow money for them to survive.

“Since the inception of OGWAMA and OGEPA, government never forced anyone to pay. If you are interested in buying scrap, you go and pay. But now, payment is being forced on us,” Chanting solidarity songs, the protesters demanded the immediate removal of Mr. Hunye Abayomi, insisting that his continued stay in office would further cripple their livelihoods.

Reacting to the protest, the Chief of Staff to the Ogun State Government, Mr. Toyin Taiwo, appealed for calm and advised the aggrieved vendors to channel their complaints through the appropriate government procedures.

Taiwo assured the protesters that the state government would look into their grievances, urging them to avoid actions that could disrupt public order.