Visionscape should be given more time – Analysts
Following the Lagos State House of Assembly’s decision to hand over waste management duties to former handlers, PSP operators, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s preferred waste management company, Visionscape Sanitation Solutions, is desperately seeking to restore citizens’ faith in its operations.
Since the company was tasked by Ambode to manage waste disposal, several parts of the state have been littered with dirt, prompting citizens to call for the return of the PSP operators.
Some have, however, argued that Visionscape, despite its failure, be given more time.
A Consultant Economist, Joseph Egbeyindo, claimed on TVC Friday morning that the eyesore Lagos has become was due to clog in the relationship among operators in the waste management ecosystem, and not lack of capacity on the part of Visionscape Sanitation Solution.
A public affairs analyst, Nelson Ekujumi, also claimed that a dirty Lagos and embarrassment of the government “with swelling filth is a likely tactic to discredit Visionscape.”
“The associated environmental and health hazards of the stalled disposal process that evacuates 13,000 tons of waste daily to the residents of the state is huge,” he said.
The analysts opined that the state lawmakers could be more tactical in terminating Visionscape’s contract.
“Against the revocation of Visionscape municipality waste management contract, it is more advisable that the company is allowed more time to deliver on its promises. The atmosphere has not been conducive for optimal performance, so it is rather early to say the company lacks capacity,” Egbeyindo said.
“Moreso, abruptly terminating the contract, aside from being hasty, also exposes the state to both reputational and financial risks. For instance, the action will adversely affect the state’s credit rating in the domestic and international market, it may impair relationship with group of investors, comprising Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), Deposit Money Banks and Trustees & Asset Managers with whom the state shares a longstanding relationship.
“So, rather than squander its A+ GCR and Agusto &Co. credit rating reputation on an issue that could be addressed by process restructuring, the state should systematically the strains in the State’s waste management and disposal ecosystem.”
The PSP operators had accepted the lawmaker’s challenge to rid the state of the mess.
