The Imo State government has partnered with Eastern Waste Management Company Limited, a German firm, to achieve a cleaner, more hygienic, and environmentally-friendly state through effective waste collection and recycling. This initiative is also expected to create employment within the local ecosystem.
The formal agreement was solidified with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the office of the state governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, in Owerri. The Secretary to the State Government, Cosmos Iwu, and the Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Majority Emenike, signed on behalf of the Imo State Government. The Managing Director, Njoku Cyril, and Agbi Isimeme, represented the German company.
During the MoU signing ceremony, Governor Uzodimma highlighted the importance of this partnership, emphasizing the company’s proven track record in other states and their recent pilot projects in parts of Imo State. “My administration entered into this agreement with the German company to ensure that Imolites enjoy a clean and hygienic environment. I did it due to the company’s past track records,” Uzodimma stated.
He also noted that the state government had passed the Private Public Partnership Law No. 11 in 2018, which facilitates collaboration with private entities to maximize opportunities for the state’s residents. The governor stressed the importance of partnering with organizations that have a history of performance and achievement, identifying EWMCL as a suitable partner to enhance cleanliness, hygiene, and job creation in Imo State.
Reverend Father Gerald Njoku, the leader of the German firm’s team, assured that EWMCL has the capacity and expertise in waste collection, recycling, and ecosystem management. He mentioned that the company’s operations in Imo State would be extensive, involving the use of incinerators to burn and recycle waste efficiently.
This partnership marks a significant step towards improving environmental conditions and creating sustainable employment opportunities in Imo State.
