Success Nwanedo
Ranking as one of the most populous cities in Nigeria, Port Harcourt is home to over one million people as well as several businesses including two of Nigeria’s petroleum refineries. Tagged the oil city, with structures including the signature blue and white bridges, and shopping malls among others, the beauty of the once-glamorous city has dwindled to a trickle, living in its past glory.
Over time, the rise in moral decadence on the part of citizens and the laxity of the government to do its job has turned the once beautiful city, into a land of filth.
Weeks after Governor Nyesom Wike terminated the contract of service providers responsible for evacuating refuse in areas within Port Harcourt City and Obio-Akpor council of the state, different spots within the councils have been adorned with mammoth heaps of dirt greeting the eyes at every glance out of the window.
The governor in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, had terminated the contract with the Rivers State Management Agency also known as RIWAMA on 29th April 2022, over inactiveness in dispensing its duties, tasking the council chairmen of Port Harcourt City and Obio-Akpor Local Government Areas to take responsibility in the interim.
According to the statement, “The decision to terminate their contract with the Rivers State Management Agency (RIWAMA) stems from their inability to fulfil the contractual obligation to ensure a cleaner and healthier environment for Rivers’ citizens.
“In the interim, the Rivers State Government has directed the Chairmen of Port Harcourt City and Obio-Akpor Local Government Areas to immediately take charge of the evacuation of waste in their respective jurisdiction, pending the announcement of new waste contractors by Monday.”
Recall that this is not the first time the laxity on the part of RIWAMA has been pointed out; on Friday, 11 June 2021, governor Wike had, in a statewide broadcast issued a two weeks ultimatum to the agency, to clear the filth defacing the major roads in the city.
Over the weeks, heaps of decaying dirt have been spotted in several areas including various sections of the East-West road, Rumuokoro, Rumuokwuta, Mgbuoba-NTA Road, Ada George Road, Location bus stop, Mile 3 and Mile 4, Ikwerre Road, Rumuola, Waterlines, Iwofe among others.
This leaves one wondering how filth has come to be the order of the day in the supposed treasure base of the nation. It is imperative to note that the health hazards of the heaps of dirt, which can lead to the breakout of disease are of paramount concern to the common man.
Although the government is not entirely culpable as residents to an extent, are to be blamed for the growing heaps of refuse. Studies have shown that many residents find it difficult to dispose of their waste appropriately, using proper trash bags and dumping at designated areas, rather than littering them indiscriminately.
Meanwhile, the two council areas, Port Harcourt and Obio Akpor, tasked to do the job of constant disposals seem not to have the financial strength and capacity to fight this growing menace.
Therefore, a call to action must be made to the government of Rivers State, to save our eyes and nose of the stench and also save our once beautiful city as promised in its statement two weeks ago stating, “In line with its commitment to ensuring a more hygienic environment, the Rivers State Government has hereby assured residents and indigenes of the state of its resolve to tackle the waste problems in the state in a comprehensive manner.”
