Waste management: WestAfricaENGR says Oyo govt responsible for dirty environment, denies breaching contract

WestAfricaENRG has expressed shock at the termination of its waste management contract by the Oyo State Government, saying that it did not breach any part of its contract as claimed by the state government.

Recall that the state Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources said on Saturday that the government revoked the contract due to material breach of contract by the company.

But in a statement, the company’s Chief Executive Officer(CEO), Paul O’Callaghan, said the company is constrained to defend its integrity by responding to the announcement by the  Commissioner.

“We categorically deny any material breach of our contract and this is the first we have heard of any such matter,” O’Callaghan said. “WestAfricaENRG is an international company working in waste management and recycling in countries throughout the ECOWAS region including many states across Nigeria, of all political persuasions.”

He stated that the company which is among the largest private investors in the waste management sector across Nigeria and a major job creator in Oyo State  was correctly subjected to the contracts review committee during which no fault was found.

O’Callaghan said  the company was invited to several meetings of the ad-hoc committee on waste management to give situation reports, perspectives and solutions to the menace of refuse collection and waste management in the state, adding that the report of the ad-hoc committee presented to Governor Seyi Makinde on October 16, stated categorically that WestAfricaENRG had performed creditably well and  found government to have failed in its  efforts to get rid of wastes and street trading in all the local governments.

His words: “In fact, the only mention of WestAfricaENRG in the report stated that we have made tremendous achievements in regards to cleaning the city from the immediate post-election challenges. We are therefore at a loss as to when our company did not live up to expectations. Any PPP contract is a partnership and in this case, it is the government of Oyo State which is in significant material breach of the contract, through the inaction of the Ministry of Environment.This move can only be described as political and one which we believe will not serve the people of Oyo State well.

He advised  the government against the politicisation of waste management, urging it to review its action as the company will be left with no choice but to execute the options before it in the contract in the case of unlawful disengagement.

O’Callaghan expressed hope that all parties will remain professional and not air any dispute through social media.