By Nneka Nwogwugwu
The present skanky sight of the capital city of Rivers State, Port Harcourt has continued to bring more concerns to environmentalists and residents of the state.
Major roads of the state are now being blocked by heaps of refuse, making residents uncomfortable to go about their various businesses.
NatureNews in a recent interview with the Programme Coordinator of Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth, Mr Philips Jakpor, decried that the city may soon experience an epidemic if proper measures are not carried out.
He said, “If nothing is not done about the mounting refuse in the city, an epidemic may break out soon.
“It is the primary responsibility of government to ensure the environment is healthy and refuse-free.
“ If this hasn’t happened then we must equally hold the state and it’s leadership responsibility.”
For over a month now, the non-evacuation of refuse from dumpsites has dented the image of the city that was known for its greenery nature and described as the “Garden city” of Nigeria.
NatureNews correspondent who visited some areas of the city on Sunday, observed that heaps of dirt have remained on the East- West Road by Rumoukruishi Tank for over one month.
Traders around the Tank Market lamented that since the beginning of the construction of the flyover approved by the government, the road has now become a dumpsite for many traders and personnel of the Rivers State Waste Management Agency are yet to evacuate the dirts.
NatureNews recalls that the Rivers State government terminated the contract with all private waste contractors effective from 29 April 2022.
The decision to terminate their contract with the Rivers State Management Agency (RIWAMA), stems from their inability to fulfil the contractual obligation to ensure a cleaner and healthier environment for Rivers’ citizens.
However, in the interim, the Chairmen of Port Harcourt City and Obio-Akpor Local Government Areas have been directed to immediately take charge of the evacuation of waste in their respective jurisdictions, pending the announcement of new waste contractors.
The Government assured residents and indigenes of the state of its resolve to tackle the waste problems in the state in a comprehensive manner.
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