In a bold move to tackle filth and restore Port Harcourt’s famed “Garden City” status, the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) has teamed up with Obio/Akpor Local Government Area and Port Harcourt City Local Government Area (PHALGA) to roll out stringent new waste management rules.
The joint initiative, announced recently, targets indiscriminate dumping, cart pushers, and other unsightly practices that have blighted the state’s capital and its environs.
Under the new directives, residents and businesses are barred from dumping refuse on road medians. Waste must now be properly bagged and deposited only at RIWAMA-approved receptacles, strictly between 6pm and 10pm daily.
Cart pushers have been outlawed entirely. Corporate organisations and other entities must henceforth engage only RIWAMA-licensed service providers for refuse collection.
Scavenging at public receptacles is also prohibited, with access to dumpsites restricted to authorised personnel only.
The traditional Thursday sanitation exercise will remain in force, and shop owners are mandated to keep their surroundings clean or risk prosecution.
The measures apply across Rivers State, affecting all residents, businesses, and organisations.
Dr Ibimina Wokoma, Managing Director of RIWAMA, emphasised the importance of synergy in achieving a cleaner environment.
“The Agency has elaborate plans for a sustainable waste management system, but with the help of local government councils, implementation becomes easier,” he said.
The partnership will include intensive sensitisation and awareness campaigns in Obio/Akpor and PHALGA to drive compliance.
Dr Gift O. Worlu, Chairman of Obio/Akpor LGA, expressed strong support for the drive. “We can change the narrative in our dear State. We should not expect anybody to do it for us,” he declared. “I look forward to more collaborations across all sectors, ministries, and agencies because environmental matters affect everyone.”
The initiative aligns with Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s broader vision for a sustainable and healthy environment in Rivers State, as authorities intensify efforts to rid the city of environmental degradation and reclaim its once-pristine appeal.
