Commissioner Lists Waste Management Problems

The Commissioner for Environment, Dr Nyema Weli, has identified lack of infrastructure as an impediment to effective Waste Management in the state.

Dr Nyema Weli stated this when the administrator of the Greater Port Harcourt, Mrs Aleruchi Cookey-Gam and Senior Members of staff visited him in his office.

The commissioner said, his ministry would introduce measures that would ensure that the streets and neighborhoods are kept clean at all times.

Such measures, he said include the use of incinerators installed at Trans-Amadi, which has not been in use, acquiring of burrow pits for dumping of waste and the commissioning of intervention committee to bridge lapses from contractors’ work.

The commissioner told the visiting members of Greater Port Harcourt Authority that for long term measures, government has invested on Waste to Wealth at Rumuokrushi and the scrap to wealth at Kira in Tai Local Government Area.

Assuring the team of the ministry’s cooperation, the commissioner said his priority would include the greening of Port Harcourt to restore its Garden City Status, adding that this would entail planting of trees.

He explained the value of trees which include checking of flood, refining of air, providing relaxation and aesthetic beauty to the environment.

Earlier, the administrator of Greater Port Harcourt, Mrs Aleruchi Cookey-Gam, told the commissioner that the team was in his office to solicit collaboration on environment planning and to have access to the ministry’s survey plan on integrated Waste Management.

She disclosed that the Acrus Gibb Report on Waste Management in the Greater Port Harcourt has located a land in oil field at Oyigbo in the south and another at the International Air Port and commended the Ministry of Environment, for its continued efforts at ensuring the cleanliness of Port Harcourt.

In his speech, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Rufus Godwins gave an assurance that the ministry would cooperate with the authority.