The Rivers State Signage and Advertisement Agency (RISAA) has assured the Rivers State House of Assembly Committee on Commissions and Agencies it would generate employment for people of the State if it secures a permanent office space.
The Acting Managing Director of the Agency, Chief (Hon) Anthony Okeah who stated this when he played host to the Assemblymen in his office on Tuesday, said the absence of a conducive office space remained one of the challenges affecting the smooth running of the Agency.
He said RISAA requires a permanent office to effectively carry out its functions, adding that the Agency’s operations were limited as it currently stays in a rented apartment.
“We are making do with what we have because it is a rented apartment and we are barely 11 months. We need a permanent office because the Agency has the capacity of employing Rivers men and women if it is expanded and placed in a proper location and an environment that will accommodate more departments”, he told the House Committee.
Chief Okeah lauded the House Committee for the visit which, he believes, would afford them the prospect to appreciate the gains and challenges of government agencies, and chart the way for better service delivery.
He said the visit, which is part of the oversight functions of the House Committee, was in tandem with ensuring that as an agency of government, everything has to be done properly for the Agency to achieve the purpose for which it is created.
The RISAA boss disclosed that the Agency was doing its best to regulate the practice of outdoor advertisement in the State, adding that the law establishing the Agency was explicit on the obligations of companies and all those who carry out outdoor advertisement to the Agency as the intermediary.
He added that aside ensuring that outdoor advertisement practices are properly regulated in the State, the Agency is also meant to generate revenue to beef up the revenue profile of the State.
His words, “That is the essence of enforcement. You enforce to ensure that people comply with the tenets of the law and it is by that compliance that they can generate revenue”.
On the beautification of the State, Chief Okeah told the visiting Assemblymen that the sensitization efforts are ongoing, adding that recently, the Agency engaged printers in the State on the need to rid public buildings and other spaces of indiscriminate pasting of posters, banners and billboards.
Earlier in his speech, Chairman of the House Committee on Agencies and Commissions, Hon. Nathaniel Awaji said their visit to RISAA was not to witch-hunt the Agency but to explore ways for interaction and sharing of ideas for better synergy.
The Chairman commended the Agency under the leadership of Chief Okeah, a former lawmaker, for his efforts in taking the Agency to record new level as according to him, RISAA has helped to beautify the State, citing the innovation at the CFC flyover, and urged him to keep up the tempo.
