RIWAMA Embarks on Public Sensitisation on Clean Environment

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA), has embarked on public sensitisation on clean environment of Port Harcourt and its environ   s.

The RIWAMA visited the markets and other public places like Rumuekini, Alakahia and Ogbogoro communities in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state yesterday to create awareness on the need to maintain a clean environment.

The team, which was led by the Sole Administrator of the RIWAMA, Mr. Felix Obuah, observed traders who were apparently taken unawares by the visit, hurried to sweep and pick up debris in their sheds and around the gutters.

Obuah, who was represented by Director of Environmental Health/Operations, Mrs. Helen Ohaka, ordered the traders to clean up gutters which were littered with refuse, warning that further acts of indiscriminate dumping of wastes would attract arrest and prosecution of defaulters by sanitation marshals.

Obuah regretted that the habit of dumping refuse at unauthorised places is frustrating the good efforts of the agency, but assured that RIWAMA would remain resolute and would not be deterred by activities of these individuals whom he described as unpatriotic traders.

He noted that “only last month, the agency embarked on a public enlightenment and sensitisation campaign against indiscriminate dumping of waste, waste management and dumping time of 6 p.m. to 12 midnight.”

Obuah stated that to keep the roads, markets and other public places clean and healthy at all times is a task that must be done by all and sundry.

He reaffirmed his stance that those who flout sanitation rules are enemies of the state.

Obuah stressed that “residents and those doing business in Port Harcourt, the state capital, and its environs have no excuse to dump refuse indiscriminately as receptacles have been strategically positioned close to business and residential places.”

The RIWAMA boss appealed to traders and residents to join hands with the State government to keep the markets and other public places clean at all times, warning that the agency would not watch unpatriotic agents sabotage its work.

He revealed that a surveillance team has been put in place to arrest and prosecute anyone found dumping wastes outside the approved hours of 6 p.m. to 12 midnight.