Governor Siminalayi Fubara has ordered the cancellation of mandatory environmental sanitation exercise recently introduced by the new chairman of the State Waste Management Agency, (RIWAMA), Dr Samuel Nwanosike.
RIIWAMA chairman, Dr. Nwanosike, announced the development after meeting with the governor.
Nwanosike, a former Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area, had assumed office as the RIWAMA boss, announced the cancellation of the compulsory monthly sanitation exercise amidst public outcry against the approach.
Speaking to newsmen after meeting with the governor in Government House, Port Harcourt, the RIWAMA boss said the exercise would not hold till further notice as the governor directed for adoption of a different approach.
He said: “Subsequently, we also want to seize the opportunity to inform the people of Rivers State that the initially proposed environmental sanitation exercise that was supposed to hold on October 4, is hereby put off until further notice. This is to allow us to build more capacity in tackling the issues of refuse management in the State.
“The governor wants a different approach and to put a human face and make sure that the people see through waste management and to give them the best of it”.
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Nwanosike said the governor is desirous of a clean , healthy environment for the people and had ordered actions to be taken against some challenges like the habit of blocking drains.
He said Gov. Fubara also assured the agency of all the support it needs to keep the environment clean and to carry out its daily activities adding that the governor has promised to assist the agency with new dumpsites.
He said: “It is the governor’s wish that the people live in good health. He is also aware of the little challenges as it concerns blocking of the drains which are activities caused by our people who use their refuse to block our drains.
“His Excellency has also given directives on the actions to take and after now Rivers people will enjoy the dividends of democracy in waste management.
“The actions of making sure that our refuse are properly managed, provision of new dump sites, properly managed dump sites and giving us all the infrastructure we need to make sure that we are able to give the needed results.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of the Agency, Dr. Ibimila Wokoma said they met with the governor to brief him on the activities of the agency.
He noted that Gov. Fubara has assured of his usual support and is very passionate about the good health of Rivers people as well as a proponent of sustainable environment.
The Managing Director advised Rivers people to continue to maintain their environment and avoid prohibited environmental behavior such as dumping of refuse on road median and blocking of drainages, but ensure that their wastes are dumped at provided receptacles.
Wokoma pointed out that the governor has assured the agency of making the required provisions to give support to the service providers in ensuring proper waste management in the State.
