The Sole Administrator, Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA), Bro. Felix Obuah has renewed his call on people living and doing business in the State not to dispose of their wastes into gutters and other water channels, to avoid blockage of water channels which is the major cause of flooding in the State.
Bro. Obuah who stated this shortly after monitoring the popular Nta Nwogba water channel in Port Harcourt today, Monday, June 29, 2020, said the call became necessary following consistent heavy rainfalls being witnessed in the State, marking the onset of raining season.
At Ikokwu, he enjoined mechanics and those doing business there to desist from throwing wastes into the gutters.
He recalled that Rivers State is among 13 states listed by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) that will witness heavy flooding this year.
The RIWAMA Sole Administrator regretted that flooding signs have begun to manifest in some states just as predicted by the NIMET because people failed to heed the warnings issued by the Agency.
Bro. Obuah said the situation called for collaborative efforts by residents across the 23 Local Government Areas to ensure that the State is not caught up by the possible flood disaster, stressing that this would only be avoided if residents and those doing business in the State regularly clean their gutters and other water channels of wastes.
The RIWAMA boss also noted that the Agency had often warned residents and those doing business in the State to adhere to environmental rules by not throwing garbage into the gutters and other waterways, as these would impede the free flow of water.
“The flood disaster which devastated several parts of the State in 2012 is still very fresh in mind and should serve as a wake-up call for all residents and people doing business in the State to take appropriate steps to avoid a repeat”, Bro. Obuah advised.
The Sole Administrator further called on residents to see themselves as partners in the crusade for a clean and healthy Rivers State, urging them to play a pivotal role by ensuring the implementation of the government’s effort to return Port Harcourt, the State Capital and its environs to its Garden City status.
He appealed to them to make it a routine exercise to properly bag their waste and dump same at approved government receptacles only, and to also observe the RIWAMA approved dumping hours of 6 p.m. to 12 midnight.
