Worried by the filthiness of Port Harcourt and its environs, the State Director of the National Orientation Agency NOA in Rivers State, Dr. Edward Banigo, has called for the reintroduction of the monthly sanitation exercise in the state to raise people’s consciousness about their environment.
Speaking with our correspondent, Dr. Banigo, lamented that Port Harcourt which was once regarded as a Garden City, is presently the dirtiest among cities in the south East and South South regions of the country, and urged the state Sole Administrator, retired Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas, to take decisive action to clean up the city.
He said “the city is an image of the state if it is clean then people will regard it, go to all the state capital in the south south non is as dirty as port harcourt, Government have the instrument of cohesion they have the resources to do what is right instead all they do is play politics instead of putting down blueprint on how to improve the society.”
Dr. Banigo, who decried the habit of dumping refuse into existing drains by some residents of Port Harcourt, warned that Rivers State, which is located within the rain belt, will experience serious flooding if deliberate efforts are not taken by relevant authorities to clear blocked drainages.
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While emphasising that residents of Port Harcourt have crucial roles to play in ensuring a clean environment, the NOA State Director called on the government to adopt measures to prosecute those caught violating environmental laws and regulations in the state.
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He explained that “People just have the wrong mentality that they can do whatever they want and get away with it, people can throw things on the road with no consequences, so government should begin to think of mechanism to apprehend those who violate environmental laws and regulation that will serve as a deterrent to others”
Dr. Banigo assured that NOA will always partner with the state government to sensitise the people on the need to keep their environment clean.
