Cleanliness Of Port Harcourt: Committee On Environment Applauds RIWAMA Sole Administrator, Bro Felix Obuah
The Rivers State House of Assembly Committee on Environment has commended the patriotic initiatives and commitment to restoring the Garden-City status of Port Harcourt, the State capital and its environs by the Sole Administrator of Rivers State Waste Management Agency, Bro Felix Obuah, describing the one year he has managed the Agency as simply wonderful.
The House committee on Environment made the commendation when the committee led by its chairman, Hon. Christian Ahiakwo visited the Sole Administrator as part of their oversight functions on Wednesday, June 8, 2016.
The Committee expressed satisfaction with the cleanliness of roads and streets in Port Harcourt and its environs and also noted the obvious absence of heaps of wastes that were hitherto the order of the day on the streets and roads prior to the appointment of Bro Felix Obuah as Sole Administrator of RIWAMA exactly one year ago.
Observing the new outlook of the streets and roads in Port Harcourt and its environs, gutters, canals and other waterways one year after Bro Obuah’s appointment, Hon Ahiakwo said the RIWAMA Administrator deserves appreciation for his efforts.
According to him, the committee as part of its oversight functions will be meeting with stakeholders in the environment sector for pro-active positive steps towards improved environmental legislation, regulations and standards as well as environmental practices.
He also announced that the committee plans to organize an Environmental Summit aimed at sustaining the good works of the Sole Administrator, Bro Obuah, and tackle all environmental issues and challenges.
Responding, the Sole Administrator of Rivers State Waste Management Agency, Bro Felix Obuah assured members of the House Committee on Environment of the Agency’s readiness to support the Environmental Summit and promised to put in his best to completely return Port Harcourt, the State capital and its environs to its former Garden-City status.
Bro Obuah commended the State Governor, Barr Nyesom Ezenwo Wike for giving him the opportunity to serve as Sole Administrator of RIWAMA as he desires to see a free, clean, peaceful and healthy Rivers State.
Bro Obuah announced that within the one year under review, he has almost cleared the backlog of debts owed service providers by the administration of Rotimi Amaechi to the tune of over N2b
Prior to the appointment of Bro Felix Obuah by His Excellency, Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, as the Sole Administrator of the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA), on June 6, 2015, the State was almost uninhabitable and unsafe for both humans and plants due to wastes littered here and there besides floods that nearly overran different parts of the State.
Benumbed by the level of the environmental mess and the glaring health hazards caused by unregulated human activities by the out-gone administration, the Sole Administrator, Bro Obuah swooped into action by putting the following machinery in place which is responsible for the enviable heightened health condition in the State.
Ø Remarkable and prompt evacuation of wastes
Ø Timely payments of refuse contractors
Ø Clean up of major creeks, canals and drains of refuse and silt.
Ø More effective and citizen participation on State Sanitation Day Exercise
Ø Harmonization of Revenue Collection with the Board of Internal Revenue thereby making the State more investors friendly
Ø Sweeping and cleaning of all major roads in Port Harcourt metropolis
Ø Fumigation and de-ordourization of all refuse dump sites
Ø Setting up of efficient monitoring teams to check littering
Ø Renovation of Staff Restaurant at RIWAMA
Ø Renovation of Conference Hall, Sanitation Court and Clinic
Ø Repairs of RIWAMA perimeter fence
Ø Reconstruction of RIWAMA police accommodation
Ø Construction of wire fencing around Bayelsa Park by Flyover Bridge
Ø Repairs of pail loader and one Bomag equipment at the dumpsite
Ø Purchase of mobile waste Tricycles
Ø Purchase of Reflector Jackets
Ø Cutting of grass and overgrown vegetation along major roads
Ø Checkmating of flooding by prevailing on contractors and property builders against dumping of wastes in drainage channels.
Ø Provision of receptacles at designated points in the city to avoid littering of wastes on the Streets and Roads.
Ø Monthly sanitation exercise now a regular exercise.
Ø Payment of debts owed contractors and service providers of the Agency by the previous administration.
Ø Provision of tricycles for monitoring and enlightenment.
Ø Improved relationship between the Agency and corporate bodies whose activities contribute in polluting the environment with respect to ridding the State of these wastes and ensuring the necessary sanitation fees are paid and promptly, too.
Ø Reinvigoration of the moribund Environmental Health Officers who visit homes and offices to ensure compliance to health regulations and prosecute defaulters.
Ø RIWAMA now has two functional dumpsites at Iwofe Rumuolumeni and Igwuruta.
Ø Clearance of garbage inherited from the Amaechi administration and debts to service providers to the tune of over N2billion..
Signed:
Jerry Needam
Special Adviser On Media And Publicity
To The Sole Administrator
Rivers State Waste Management Agency