RIWAMA campaigns against blockage of drains in Rivers

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Against the backdrop of blockage of drainage in the state capital and environs, officials of Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA), have intensified sensitization campaigns to markets and other public places.

On Tuesday, the officials were at Rumuekini, Alakahia and Ogbogoro in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the State.

The team, which represented the Sole Administrator, Obuah, was led by the Director of Environmental Health/Operations, Mrs. Helen Ohaka who instantly ordered traders to clean up gutters which were littered with refuse in each of the markets they visited.

The Traders who were apparently taken unawares by the visit, hurriedly sweep and pick up debris in their sheds and around the gutters.

Obuah warned that further acts of indiscriminate dumping of wastes would attract arrest and prosecution of defaulters by sanitation Marshals.

He regretted that the continued habit of dumping refuse at unauthorized places, is geared at frustrating the good efforts of the Agency.

But he assured that RIWAMA remains resolute and would not be deterred by activities of individuals he described as ‘unpatriotic traders’.

In press statement endorsed by Jerry Needam, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Obuah stated that a month ago, the Agency embarked on a public enlightenment and sensitization campaign against indiscriminate dumping of waste in unauthorized places and waste management.

He warned that the approved time for dumping refuse in officially designated receptacles is between 6pm to 12 midnight.

Obuah solicited for the support of members of the public, especially traders and market women to keep the roads, markets and other public places clean and healthy at all times.

Reaffirming his stance that those who flout sanitation rules are enemies of the State, Bro. Obuah stressed: “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”.

He cautioned that the Agency would not fold its hand and watch unpatriotic agents sabotage the works of RIWAMA.

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