The Managing Director of the Ogun State Waste Management Agency, OGWAMA, Mr. Abayomi Hunye, has dismissed allegations that the recent increase in waste management fees was introduced to reduce the number of operators in the sector.
Mr. Hunye refuted claims by an association that the fee increase was a deliberate move to force operators out of business. He made this known during a media parley with journalists at Iwe Iroyin, Okelewo area of Abeokuta. The association had also alleged that operators who failed to renew their licences were threatened and compelled to make payments before the end of December each year.
Hunye, while reacting to the allegations, said the issue had already been addressed. He noted that although the association claimed to have taken the matter to the Ogun State House of Assembly and the Commissioner of Police, no official letter was received from either office.
The OGWAMA boss stressed that the fee adjustment was not new, explaining that it was implemented in 2024, and questioned why the issue was being raised again in 2026.
Mr. Hunye also denied allegations of extortion and intimidation, stating that all payments are made directly into government accounts and not to him personally. He explained that extortion involves the illegal collection of money, which, according to him, does not apply in this case, as OGWAMA has the legal authority to review and increase its fees.
“There is no extortion or intimidation involved, as all payments are made directly into government accounts and not to me personally.”
He added that the agency does not handle cash payments, noting that operators pay through designated state government accounts.
The Managing Director further stated that he has no personal interest in the matter, emphasizing that his priority is to protect his integrity and ensure that the agency operates strictly within the law.
“My priority is to protect my integrity and ensure that the agency operates strictly within the law.”
Meanwhile, the media parley was marked by the presence of some association members who carried placards with various inscriptions, expressing solidarity with Mr. Abayomi Hunye and affirming their support for his leadership at OGWAMA.
The Chairman of the Association, Mr Adesanya Kunle insisted that the protesters had been suspended indefinitely since 2023, insisting they are no longer authentic excos of the Association.
Adesanya also disclosed that the group of people who were suspended due to their involvement in unlawful practices, subsequently formed another association- ‘Association of Waste Managers, Vendors and Recyclers of Nigeria, without approval from the state government.
“All these people parading themselves as the authentic members of the association are not. They have been suspended since 2023 due to illegal practices which are against OGWAMA and the state government.They were involved in multiple atrocities and they were suspended for that. I wrote the then Commissioner of Police and the Commissioner for Environment and copied the DSS.
“Part of the policies of the state government that a company must not register more than one venture, but these people were going against that policy.
“The reason they staged the protest against the SA/MD, Mr Abayomi Hunyen was because he is a man who would not condone corruption and these set of people wanted him to approve or embrace their corrupt acts and because they couldn’t have their way, they decided to level unfounded allegations against the MD.”
