The absence of local government chairmen in the local councils in Rivers State and the dissolution of all boards and authorities appointed by Governor Sim Fubara by the new Administrator is beginning to take a toll on the sanitary condition of the state.
Our correspondent went round some markets and streets in the metropolis and discovered heaps of rotten, smelling refuse struggling for spaces with the wares displayed by staple food dealers.
It is common to see people selling perishables like fresh tomatoes, pepper meat, ice fish, etc very close to the heaps of smelly refuse and using hand or paper to ward off flies and other irritants perching on the wares being displayed.
From the Creek Road Market to the Fruit market at D-Line, to Oil Mill Market among many others, the story is the same as both the sellers, buyers and passers- by wear nose mask to protect themselves from the offensive odour oozing from the rapidly decaying refuse heaps,raising the spectre of imminent epidemic in the state
Also at many designated refuse disposal points, the heaps of refuse have become so big and encroaching on the pathway that vehicular movement is being affected as the roads have become so narrow that two vehicles cannot pass at opposite directions at the same time.
Many residents are also taking advantage of lack of any regulatory authority for now to dump their wastes at unauthorized places and outside the designated time. The state capital,Port Harcourt and even in the local areas now conjure an ugly spectacle, turning the once celebrated Garden City into a Garbage City.
Before the local government chairmen were sacked following the orders of the Supreme Court, they were up and doing in ensuring timely evacuation of refuse as disposal vehicles were always stationed at strategic points collecting wastes from households and taking them to approved dump sites.
With the absence of defined power structure in the councils following the exit of the elected officials, no one knows the level of empowerment the Head of Local Government Administration, (HLGA) who are holding fort enjoys to be able to step in to salvage the situation.
Interestingly, it was difficult to access any of the HLGA for their reaction to the life threatening heaps of refuse which litter the areas. It was either they were not in office or too busy to attend to any “press man”, as our correspondent sought to speak with some of them
Read Also: Constituents petition INEC, begin process to recall Enugu Rep, Martins Oke
In the markets visited, it was lamentation galore by everyone spoken to as many attributed the situation to the political crisis in the state.
“You see where we are now. Many people thought that the problem in the state would only end with the people struggling for power. You.see now that it is reaching everybody. Who does not come to market to buy what to eat? Look at where we are selling what people eat. Why will people not fall sick and even die?, a trader at one of the markets lamented.
Meanwhile, an environment expert, Prof.Anda Olu Wai-Ogosu has raised concern over poor waste management practices currently affecting densely populated areas in the state.
In an interview, Ogosu, said the situation if not quickly nipped in the bud could lead to increased flooding and related health challenges as the rainy season progresses in the state.
”Residents of the state could attest to the fact that in the past two weeks, the volume of waste returning to major junctions, especially densely populated areas, is becoming worrisome.
”Yesterday, while returning from Eleme to Port Harcourt, I noticed an alarming volume of refuse in more than three major junctions.
”It shows that the services of waste collectors may have been affected by the current political instability in the state,’’ he said.
Wai-Ogosu said that the situation could be detrimental because the drainages which were not in optimal working condition would be overtaken by waste, thereby escalating both hygiene and flood related crises.
According to him, government should quickly look into the waste management institution by engaging the environmentalists, society of engineers, surveyors and town planners with a view to tackling impending flood.
He urged the Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, to authorise the Ministries of Environment, Health, Physical and Urban Planning to proffer solutions to the emerging challenges.
