Mountains of garbage have overwhelmed major roads and neighborhoods in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, raising serious concerns about public health and environmental safety.
Report reveal that waste now fills road medians and streets in various areas, including Rumuolumeni, Egbelu, Eneka, Rukpokwu, Igwuruta, and Eleme. The growing piles of debris have become an eyesore and prompted complaints from residents and business owners about increasing pollution.
Residents and shopkeepers along the St. John’s Bus Stop section of Iwofe Road, encompassing Rumuolumeni and Egbelu, are urging the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) to swiftly clear the refuse. They attribute the problem to what they perceive as a breakdown in waste management efforts.
In an interview with our correspondent, business owners in the affected areas lamented that the lingering odor from the waste is beginning to impact their earnings. Shop owner Mark Uwana expressed his frustration that customers are being driven away by the smell.
“Customers are avoiding us because of the odor, making it harder to run our business,” he shared.
Another trader noted that refuse contractors who used to collect waste regularly during early mornings and evenings have stopped their operations, resulting in trash piling up throughout the area.
Egbelu resident Nbani Loveday, who lives close to a slaughter area, described the situation as hazardous, emphasizing that locals are often exposed to polluted air.
“We’re enduring unbearable conditions. The garbage is everywhere, and it seems no one is taking responsibility,” he remarked.
He also pointed out that this issue is not confined to Rumuolumeni alone; many regions in Rivers State are grappling with similar challenges, suggesting an impending sanitation crisis.
According to him, areas such as Igwuruta and Rukpokwu along with Rumuokoro and Rumuokwuta alongside Eleme, Oil Mill, Waterlines, and Garrison are all struggling with improper waste disposal.
Residents are appealing to the Rivers State Government for immediate action to ensure that RIWAMA effectively fulfills its responsibilities to prevent a public health emergency.
