Environment

2020 And Rivers Environment

Published

5 years ago

December 30, 2020

In a few hours from now, the entire world will bid goodbye to the year 2020, which in some circles is described as a twin year.
According to some social media influencers, Nostradamus, the great and revered futurist, had centuries ago predicted about a lady arising from the East and destroying a country of the 20 hills.
It is now accepted in some quarters that the so-called Nostradumus twine year is 2020, and the lady from the East is the Coronavirus popularly known as the COVID-19.
So, as the year 2020 comes to an end in the next few hours, what will the year be remembered for.
Of course, the advent of the Coronavirus pandemic is one thing that generations will talk about for a long time to come.
The Coronavirus pandemic is not peculiar to Rivers State alone, but Rivers State was shut down just like other parts of this world.
The economy of the state was badly affected and even the resurgence of the second wave of the virus is raising serious concerns among residents of the state.
In the year under review, the state joined the rest of the world to celebrate the World Earth Day. The World Earth Day is celebrated April every year across the world.
The World Toilet Day was also celebrated in Rivers State. The World Toilet Day is celebrated 19th November every year across the world.
The theme for this year’s celebration was “Sustainable Sanitation and Climate Change.”
In the area of the monthly environmental sanitation, a lot of activities also took place.
However, the greatest calamity of all proportions within the period under review was the issue of flooding.
According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the entire Orashi region of Rivers State was flooded this year as well as few local government areas in other parts of the state.
In Ahoada West Local Government Area, the entire Engenni Kingdom was submerged.
In Ubie Kingdom also in Ahoada West, most communities were submerged with one life reportedly lost, while in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, three lives were reportedly lost to the flood in Omoku community, while houses, farmlands and other properties worth millions of Naira were reportedly destroyed by the flood.
The situation was the same in Ndoni, Egbema, Egi, Abua/Odual and Ahoada East.
Flood also wreaked havoc in some coastal local government areas of Andoni, Opobo/Nkoro, Akuku Toru, Bonny and Asari Toru local government areas.
Also in the year under review, Rivers State Government took steps to check the proliferation of illegal oil refineries popularly known as “kpofire” with the view to checking the effect of the black soot.
A committee to workout modalities for the establishment of modular refineries was set up by the state government.
At a seminar, at the Delta Hotel, Port Harcourt, the committee explained that the proposed modular refineries, when established, will impart necessary skills to the people as well as curtail the damaging effect of the “kpofire” business which is not only illegal, but destructive to the environment.
It also urged those involved in the illegal business to form cooperatives to enable them benefit from government good intention in this direction.
Also in the year under review, the Rivers State Government signed a contract for the Obio/Akpor and Port Har-court Water Scheme, while the water project executed by the state government in conjunction with the European Union (EU) under the Niger Delta Support Scheme was commissioned at Opobo.
The state also joined in the celebration of the World Water Day.
Meanwhile, Rivers people have been speaking of their expectations in the environment sector in the upcoming New Year.
A cross section of Rivers people, who spoke in an interview with The Tide called on the government to be more proactive.
They called for regular sanitation exercises while the environmental aspect that concerns the COVID-19 protocols such as regular hand-washing with soap and running water be strictly enforced.
They also demanded for the dredging of the Orashi river to check the perennial flooding in that part of the local government area.
Speaking with The Tide, the former Chief Medical Director of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Dr Uriah Etawo said the people of Engenni and the entire Orashi region expect the Mbiama or Orashi river to be dredged.
Etawo said the perennial flooding in the area has cost the people lots of lives and property.
Also speaking, the Okan Ama of Ataba Kingdom, Andoni Local Government Area, King Benson Mgbowaji Egwenre said the kingdom expects both the state and federal governments to embark on shore protection in coastal communities in the state to check coastal erosion and flooding.
He spoke to The Tide during the distribution of relief materials by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), to victims of this year’s flood disaster in the kingdom.
In his remarks, the Eze Igbu Ubie of Ubie Kingdom, Ahoada West Local Government Area, Eze Maxwell Okokiri said efforts should be made by the various levels of government in the country to end the perennial flooding in the area.
On his part, an Environmentalist, Miss Ene Blessing Digbani said a monitoring system to reduce pollution should be put in place.
According to her, government should put in place measures to ensure that carbon emission is reduced to World Health Organisation (WHO) standard.
“The biggest problem is climate change. So government should step up the game to fight climate change.”
The environmentalist also called for the Polluters Pay Principle to be applied in the case of corporate organisations which pollute the environment daily.
She called on the people to embrace renewable energy and stop the use of firewood as it is dangerous to the environment.
Also commenting, Prince Williams Chinwo, who is also an environmentalist called for planting of more trees in the upcoming year.
“I anticipate more tree planting, cleaning of the internal waterways or rivers, strict observation of sanitation laws to enforce domestic environmental protection and sanitary regulations,” he said.
Also speaking, Mrs Nancy Iheduru said she expects more people to adhere to the State Waste Management Laws, as it is the only way to check wastage in the environment sector.
Iheduru also called for more enforcement against indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drainages and water channels.

Environment

RUWASSA solicits Government Support To Tackle poor sanitation in Rivers state

Published

2 weeks ago

December 8, 2025

The Tide

Rivers state Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency( RUWASSA)has inaugurated The state Task Group On Sanitation( STGS ).

General Manager of the Agency,Mr Peter Thompson said the inauguration will facilitate the agency’s commitment towards monitoring and implementation of Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)programms in the state.

He said the agency is also working towards an open defecation free Rivers state.

Meanwhile The Rivers state Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency( RUWASSA) has solicited the support of the state government towards the implementation of WASH programs in the rural areas.

General Manager of the Agency Mr Peter Thompson said this in an address at an event to mark this year’s World Toilet Day in Port Harcourt.

He said the appeal has become necessary inview of the need to translate the visionary goal of the government in the WASH sector to reality.

Thompson said while, it is the function of the Ministry of Water Resources of and Rural Development to provide the policy direction and strategic framework,it is however the core mandate of RUWASSA to translate the visionary goal of water sanitation and hygiene for all into functional water points.

“Most critically for today’s discussion, safe toilets in households, markets schools and public places across Rivers state

“We are the engineers who design the systems, the community Mobilizers who foster ownership, the hygiene promoters who drive behavioural change and the first responders to sanitation related public health crisis

“Our role is not just to build, but to transform”he said.

He acknowledged the challenges posed by poor sanitation in the state noting,,”the sanitation challenges we confront in Rivers state are stark and sobering.

“A structure that discharges faeces directly into the environment is not toilet, it is a public health hazard in disguise a betrayal of the very purpose it is meant to serve

“This is not theoretical concept for us at the Rivers state Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency;it is a daily operational reality we grapple with

“We have seen with our eyes the well intentioned but tragically flawed projects that dots community waterfronts , masquerading as toilets

“We have witnessed the fake toilets perpetuate, this is the core challenge we must collectively address, ensuring that every single toilet in Rivers state provide 100 percent containment and safe treatment of faeces ” he said

Thompson further described as eyesore”the pervasive phenomen of building toilets that perpetuate, rather than prevent open defecation in our waterfront Communities “adding “it is a symptomatic failure on two critical fronts and Rivers state Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency accept its share of the responsibility for not having overcome it yet”

He however said his agency is determined to close the gap ,as it is their duty to research,identify, pilot and promote context specific, appropriate sanitation technologies that are both effective and environmentally safe

“This is a mission we are pursuing with vigour through our strategic partnership with the Centre for water and sanitation studies at the Rivers state university and other specialized academic institutions to develop a portfolio of Rivers state Appropriate Sanitation Technology”he said.

By: John Bibor

Environment

PIND Set To Boost Employment Unveils N113M

Published

2 weeks ago

December 8, 2025

The Tide

The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) has launched a N113 million Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) facilities upgrade grant to modernise and expand 14 TVET centres across the Niger Delta.

The Executive Director, PIND Foundation, Mr Sam Daibo, said this in a statement on Thursday in Lagos.

Daibo said the funding would boost youth employment in the region and drive long term economic transformation.

He said the initiative would strengthen the region’s skills development ecosystem by upgrading infrastructure and improving training delivery.

He added that it would enhance the long-term sustainability of TVET institutions operating in Information and Communication Technology, building construction, agriculture, and services.

He listed beneficiary centre locations to include Aba (Abia State), Warri (Delta State), Port Harcourt (Rivers State), Uyo (Akwa Ibom State), and Asaba (Delta State).

These Daibo said would serve as hubs that collectively support thousands of young people transitioning into work and enterprise.

“We are not just upgrading equipment; we are upgrading futures and this investment ensures that TVET centers can train more young people with skills demanded by today’s industries.

“When we strengthen institutions that train youth, we strengthen livelihoods, businesses, and the future of the Niger Delta,” he said.

Daibo revealed that the programme would run from September 2025 to February 2026.

He said it was expected to directly benefit over 10,000 unemployed youths through market-relevant skills and stronger job and enterprise linkages.

He stated that as part of the launch, PIND hosted a strategy workshop in Akwa Ibom with government agencies, private sector partners, and development actors.

This workshop, Daibo said, was to explore pathways for building a more commercially viable and resilient TVET sector in the region.

“By enabling TVET centres to operate at higher standards and absorb more learners, PIND is positioning skills development as a catalyst for youth employment, innovation, and inclusive growth across the Niger Delta,” he said.

Environment

Flood Victims Seek More Help FromTinubu And NEMA

Published

2 weeks ago

December 8, 2025

The Tide

Beneficiaries of relief materials distributed during the 2025 flooding in Akwa Ibom State have expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

They gave the commendations on Friday when a NEMA Monitoring and Evaluation Team led by Mr. Manzo Ezekiel visited Uyo to assess the impact of the interventions.

While the residents acknowledged the supports, ranging from building materials to essential household items, they stressed that the relief provided was insufficient compared to the scale of destruction caused by the flooding.

They, therefore, appealed for more sustained and long-term solutions.

Mr Emmanuel Ekong, one of the beneficiaries and resident of Use- Offot in Uyo metropolis, who received bags of cement and bundles of zinc, expressed appreciation to the federal government and NEMA for the support.

Ekong, however, said the relief materials were “grossly inadequate, as it could not completely assuage the suffering experienced during the flooding”.

“NEMA came here and donated some bags of cement to us to help rebuild the fence that collapsed due to flooding in this community.

“I want to thank NEMA, Federal Government immensely for what they have done. I also want to urge that they should take steps to completely take away flood water from this community.

“We want NEMA to do more, because what they gave us was negligible, considering the magnitude of flooding in this area,” Ekong said.

The team also visited the Afaha Offot community, widely prone for flooding, and met with the Village Head, Chief David Etuk, who thanked Tinubu and NEMA for the support to victims.

Etuk appealed to governments and NEMA to do more to alleviate the suffering of the people in the community.

“I want to thank NEMA for always finding time to visit us; not once, not twice.

“We have been interacting with the agency periodically, and they have paid on-the-spot visit to flood ravaging areas within this community.

“The flood is so enormous that the village is always taken over by water and we have written to the federal and state governments to come to our rescue, by providing a lasting solution.

“I want to thank NEMA for always being there for us in terms of relief materials.

“They will come and when we take them round, they will invite us to come and get relief items, like foodstuffs, but we still need more,” Etuk said.

Another beneficiary, Miss Mary Dennis, thanked NEMA for the materials she eceived during the period.

“My name is Mary Dennis from Uyo LGA, I collected some items from the Federal Government through NEMA.

“My house was flooded and all my things were damaged and the federal government came to my aid by giving me, a mattress, blanket, mat, stove and bucket.

“I thank them for the gesture” she said.

In his comment after the exercise, Ezekiel, Head of Media, NEMA headquarters, said the visit was to hear directly from the beneficiaries.

Ezekiel said information gathered from the field would be processed and sent to the management for proper planning to serve the people better.

He assured the people that NEMA and the federal government were not just concerned about the interventions, but the plights and difficulties the victims were passing through.

“We are in a mission to connect with people, who were affected by flooding and to interact with them to get some feedback on our interventions.

“The meeting is also to evaluate the support they have received and to give them the sense of belonging that NEMA and the federal government are concerned about their plights.

“The reactions we have received from people, who have benefited from our interventions, are overwhelming.

“It is good that we have come here to hear from them, that they had received relief materials sent to them through our operational office in Uyo.

“They have all appreciated our interventions, but some of the issues mentioned by the people have to do with ecological interventions.

“That is not directly under our purview, but we will take the message to the appropriate authorities for action,” Ezekiel said.

He urged the people to take measures to prevent flooding within their communities by desilting drainage around them.

“There are little things residents can do to avoid flooding – keep your environment clean, stop dumping of refuse into gutters when it rains, and desilting of drainages properly.

“We are happy that the interventions we rendered are receiving positive feedback from the people that benefited from our assistance,” he said.