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Flooding: Rivers Community Counts Losses … NEMA Set To Distribute Relief Materials

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5 years ago

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As the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) declares its readiness to assist flood ravaged communities in Rivers State, Egbema Kingdom in Ogba Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area lost over a billion naira worth of properties to the flood.
The President of Ogbakor Egbema, Mr. Ify Francis Ike told The Tide in an exclusive interview in Port Harcourt that over 2.6 million people have been displaced by the flood in the Kingdom.
According to Mr Ike worst affected communities are: Ebocha, Aggah, Mbede Obumuzie, Ogbada and other communities.
He said the flood pulled down buildings, eroded farm lands as well as aided the escape of fishes from ponds in communities in the kingdom.
According to him, the situation also led to hygienic problems, as thousands of people were crammed into the three secondary school halls in the area.
He who is also chairman of ONELGA people Association on flood, called for the dredging of all rivers inlets and outlets in the area, while canals should be opened up to aide the free flow of waters out of the area.
He advised the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to ensure that relief materials gets to those who deserved it.
He said NEMA should contact the right people to assist in the distribution of the relief materials, stressing that the people of Egbema need warm clothings, food, fishing gears and farming implements, while a programme for the care of the elderly as regular medical outreach be included in the programme.
Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) South South zone says it has received relief materials from its national office for onward distributions to three local government areas in Rivers State.
NEMA zonal coordinator Brandon Walson disclosed this via a telephone interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt.
Walson listed the benefitting Local Government Areas as: Ahoada West, Abua/Odual and Ogba Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Areas.
The coordinator said only places captured by the Agency will benefit from the exercise, adding that a meeting with the three affected local government chairmen will be convened by the Agency.

 

By: John Bibor

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Environment

Lagos State Government Refuted Resumed Monthly Sanitation 

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4 days ago

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February 23, 2026

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The Lagos State Government on Saturday refuted an online media report claiming that the state had resumed the monthly environmental sanitation exercise.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, said no categorical statement had been made regarding the commencement date of the exercise.
Wahab explained that what he told newsmen after a project inspection tour last Sunday was that engagements with relevant stakeholders were still ongoing.
He said the state government had planned to begin with a sensitisation programme last week, but was constrained by logistics issues.
“The truth is, we were meant to start with a sensitisation programme last week, but we had a logistics issue. We need to find a day that is acceptable to all stakeholders,” he said.
He expressed optimism that the exercise might return very soon, adding that the official date would be communicated by the Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The commissioner urged law-abiding residents to continue their lawful activities without hindrance, assuring them that adequate notice would be given before the exercise was reintroduced.
The monthly environmental sanitation, previously held on the last Saturday of every month between 7.00 a.m. and 10.00 a.m., was suspended in November 2016 following a legal pronouncement restricting movement during the exercise.
However, renewed waste management challenges, including clogged drainage channels and indiscriminate refuse disposal, have sparked calls from residents for its reinstatement.
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Environment

RIWAMA In Collaboration With Obio Akpo And Port Harcourt LGA Ban Dumping Of Refuse On  Road Side

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4 days ago

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February 23, 2026

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The Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) in Collaboration with Obio Akpor Local Government Council and Port Harcourt City LGA had advised the public not to dump refuse on the road side.
 In a statement signed by the Director of RIWAMA Dr Ibimina Wokoma, Mayor of Port Harcourt Sir Hon Allwell Ihunda and Obio Kpor local government Chairman Hon  Dr,  Gift  Worlu made available to Tide news stated that dumping of refuse on road medians is banned in Obio Akpor LGA, Port Harcourt City LGA, and the entire metropolis.
The statement said all waste is to be properly bagged and taken to the nearest RIWAMA-approved receptacle only between the hours of 6pm and 10pm daily.
“The use of cart pushers for waste collection, evacuation, and disposal is highly prohibited across Obio Akpor LGA and Port Harcourt City Local Government. Corporate organizations are requested to engage only Private Service Providers licensed by RIWAMA, in line with extant laws.
“Scattering of refuse bags at the receptacles or roadside by scavengers, individuals, and organizations engaged in illegal sorting or segregation of waste or recycling business is hereby banned, except as authorized or licenced by RIWAMA at the final dumpsites.
“The Thursday sanitation exercise by shop owners will continue alongside business activities without closing or locking up shops.
The statement also said  that , shop owners whose shop environment or surroundings are untidy will be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.
This notice applies to all residents, businesses, and organizations in Rivers State. Let’s work together to restore our “Garden City” status.
By: Kiadum Edookor
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Environment

Ministry Of Environment To Validate A Landmark Policy To Advance Nigeria’s Economy 

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4 days ago

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February 23, 2026

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The Federal Ministry of Environment last Thursday convened key stakeholders in Abuja to validate a landmark policy brief aimed at tackling marine litter to advance Nigeria’s transition to a circular economy.
Mrs Falmata Bukar-Kolo, the Deputy Director, Solid Waste Management and Technology Division in the ministry, warned that plastic pollution poses serious risks to aquatic ecosystems and public health.
She stated that microplastics have already entered the food chain through fish consumption, while clogged waterways, soil contamination, and greenhouse gas emissions from burning plastics are worsening the environmental crisis.
Bukar-Kolo said that plastics, though widely used, are non-biodegradable and persist in the environment for years.
She called for improved waste management systems, stronger enforcement of environmental regulations, and behavioural change amongst citizens and businesses.
Mr Clem Ugorji, Regional Coordinator of PROTEGO, emphasised on the urgency of action, saying Nigeria’s marine litter crisis carries environmental, economic, and reputational costs.
He expressed optimism that the 2025 to 2040 roadmap endorsed at the workshop would shift the country from prolonged dialogue to concrete implementation.
The  event was organised in collaboration with PROTEGO (Prevention of Marine Litter in the Gulf of Guinea).
Discussions centred on a draft policy input paper titled “Policies, Institutional Set-up and Financing of Marine Litter Prevention in Nigeria,”.
These seeks to present insightful analysis and a set of recommendations to address the structural and financing gaps that have long hindered effective waste management, particularly plastic leakage from inland communities and waterways into the Atlantic Ocean.
The PROTEGO initiative is supported by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection and led by adelphi, with implementation in Nigeria by WASTE Africa and the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre (NCIC).
The policy brief is a key delivery for one of the programme’s four impact areas – building capacities of public stakeholders.
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