Sanitation Authority Decries Lack Of Dump Site

The chairman of the Rivers State Environmental Sanitation Authority. Mr. Isobo Jack, has fingered out the unavailability of designated waste dump fields as a major problem of the authority.

Mr. Jack made this known to the honourable Commissioner for Environment last week when he made his maiden inspection visit on the Rivers State Environmental Sanitation Authority, Port Harcourt.

The chairman  had briefed the commissioner and his entourage which included the permanent secretary of the ministry of Environment, Mr. Rufus Godwins on problems of the authority among which  are: undesignated waste dump fields, broken down equipment to carry out their job, inadequate revenue to pay adhoc staff etc.

Mr. Isobo Jack explained that in a bid to ensure a regulatory habit in waste disposal, the authority closed down receptacles that were not created by the government, a situation that had subjected the authority to the use of burrow pits, many of which he complained are already filled.

He explained that his authority’s obvious handicaps forced it to recall some contractors who were originally dropped for lack of good performance.

Responding, the commissioner for Environment, Dr Nyema Weli, expressed dismay at the level of dilapidation of infrastructure in the authority stating that the task of environmental cleanliness cannot be achieved without good infrastructure.

He however, condemned the attitude of absolute dependence on government by the people on the cleanliness of the state, and called on companies, institutions etc to contributed their quota, while the government provides the instruments.

Dr. Weli, urged every resident to  be a  vanguard against unauthorised waste dumping as a way towards achieving the needed  restoration of the garden city status of Port Harcourt.

While charging the sanitation Authority to prioritise her needs the commissioner called for the rebuilding of the workshop which he explained would be necessary for the maintenance of the equipment needs of the authority.

He later addressed a group of hotlines and other stakeholders in environment, on the  need to imbibe the culture of cleanliness in  the execution of their daily duties.

Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi