The Rivers State Waste Management Agency, RIWAMA, has called on residents to adopt proper waste disposal practices to restore Port Harcourt’s Garden City status.
The Managing Director of RIWAMA, Dr Ibimina Wokoma, made the call at the 2026 Waste Management Conference organised by BusinessDay in partnership with Pioneer Waste Master Limited at Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt.
Dr Wokoma described waste as a resource with economic value rather than something meant only for disposal. He said population growth and increasing human activities have contributed to rising waste generation, requiring residents to embrace better waste management practices.
He warned that dumping refuse on road medians undermines efforts to restore the city’s Garden City status.
The RIWAMA boss disclosed that the agency evacuates about 3,000 tonnes of waste daily, with 2,000 tonnes collected from Port Harcourt City and 1,000 tonnes from Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
He added that the agency also supervises waste management operations in the state’s other 21 local government areas.
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Dr Wokoma said RIWAMA had restored designated waste receptacles but acknowledged that more were needed. He assured residents that efforts were underway to provide additional facilities.
He also announced that more than 100 private sector participants had been formalised for door-to-door waste collection, while an application for on-demand waste collection was undergoing testing.
The agency is also exploring recycling opportunities by processing plastics and paper into materials that can be sold to recycling companies. Its ongoing project to recover 100 million used water sachets is part of the initiative.
Dr Wokoma urged residents to bag their waste properly, dispose of it only in designated receptacles and observe the approved disposal hours of 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
