As of 10 am on Thursday, June 26, 2025, refuse heaps had taken over some parts of the roads in Port Harcourt, the capital city of Rivers State.
For instance, at the First Market Junction in Eneka Clan of the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state, the refuse had taken over more than 80 per cent of a lane of the road, causing traffic gridlock in the area.
The situation was not any different at Iwofe, St. John’s axis. Refuse has taken over the median strip of most part of the road.
When TPCN visited Eneka First Market, residents, business owners, passersby, and motorists expressed concern over the situation.
They expressed fear over the health implications of the increasing refuse heaps, if not evacuated as soon as possible.
According to them, an epidemic outbreak now stares the people of Rivers State as refuse heaps take over some parts of Port Harcourt.
In a bid to ensure the restoration of Port Harcourt to its garden city status, the respondents that spoke with our correspondent begged the state Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ekwe Ibas (rtd), to as a matter of urgency, direct the immediate evacuation of the waste, which they said has become an eye sore.
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Speaking, a Keke rider, Mr. Kinika Friday said, “we don tire to complain, we don talk tire, make them help us commot this dustbin here, eh dey worry. The smell sef na problem. See, people dey even sell food here.
“Eh Dey cause hold up. The thing dey worry, to pass here you must waka on top dirty, haba, eh no good.
“Make government, people wey dey in-charge of this thing help Eneka people abeg.”
Another speaker, who trades in the area, Mrs. Vero Emmanuel said, “it have been long they removed dustbin here, yesterday (Wednesday) na two aboki people help push am inside small.
“Fly wey dey from here come out no be small thing. Eh no good.
“The only thing I wan beg na make them commot the dustbin na my own be that.”
A native, Charles Nnadi, “It’s a very terrible situation. There are lots of flies, the smell is terrible, we want the sole administrator to see how he can empower the contractors or call them to order to ensure that we have a safe and clean environment.”
