RSG Unviels Anti-Flood Measures …Begins Desilting Of Ntanwogba Creek, Others

The Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA), has commenced the de-silting of major creeks and canals in Port Harcourt City and Obio Akpor local government areas and its environs to forestall possible flooding in the areas as predicted by the appropriate government agencies.
Accordingly, residents and people engaged in the habit of throwing refuse indiscriminately into the canals and creeks have been warned to desist forthwith or face the full wrath of the relevant sanitation laws.
The Sole Administrator of the agency, Bro. Felix Obuah, who disclosed this while inspecting on-going works at Ntanwogba Creek, Mini-Nwondugba, Mini-Aziri, Mini-Ngwolu and Mini-Ekere canals in the two LGAs, said the initiative was part of Governor Nyesom Wike’s determination to check any impending floods in the state.
The RIWAMA boss lamented that free flow of water in all the canals and creeks has been hampered due to indiscriminate dumping of garbage.
Obuah, who was accompanied on the inspection tour by RIWAMA’s Director of Administration, Mr. Ian Gobo, pointed at a fenced wall which was erected close to the waterway at the GRA, Phase 2 end of Ntanwogba Creek, adding that such was a potential cause of flooding.
“These are typical examples of blocking the drains and preventing the free flow of waters.  It is as a result of this kind of act that the governor has mandated that all of these creeks and canals in the state must be cleaned to avoid flooding”, he stated, and expressed satisfaction with the level of work done by the contractors.
The sole administrator added that his agency would demolish all buildings and structures blocking waterways in all the creeks and canals even as he said that those putting up such structures or throwing garbage to block the drains would henceforth be arrested and prosecuted.
Obuah, who is also the state chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), revealed that four swamp buggy vehicles were deployed and now working in each of the creeks and canals, adding that the project has reached advanced stage and could be completed in one month.
He said that the use of the swam buggy became necessary in order to dig up the quantum of garbage buried beneath the canals and creeks, adding that the Wike administration would not compromise standards in executing projects.
Obuah added that the second phase of the project would be the clearing of the excavated silts to provide walkways at both sides of the creeks so as to allow people access to the creeks.
At Mini-Nwondugba in Oroigwe community, where large group of youth were involved in the desilting work, the youth lauded the administration for embarking on the project.
One of the youth leaders, Nyebuchi Worgu Ohuru, who hails from Obio/Akpor, Ward One (Oroigwe), said members of the community were pleased with the project.
“The people of this community are solidly behind the government of Nyesom Wike, and we thank you, Bro. Felix Obuah for your good works.
“The waters are flowing freely now even with the bridge that has collapsed”, he said, but pleaded with RIWAMA to expand the canal to enable the waters flow faster.