Environment

That Refuse Heap In Bori-Kono Road

Published

9 years ago

November 21, 2016

Bori is the headquarters of Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State and traditional headquarters of the Ogoni ethnic nationality Rivers State.

The community is presently the capital of the Rivers South East Senatorial zone comprising Khana, Gokana, Tai, Eleme, Andoni, Opobo/Nkoro and Oyigbo local government area.

The presence of the Kenule Beeson Saro Wiwa polytechnic and other commercial ventures have led to an upsurge in the population of Bori.

The consequence of this is that, the problem of refuse disposal is becoming a source of concern to residents of the city and the adjoining communities. Investigation by The Tide revealed that, the local authorities are yet to come to terms with the problem of refuse disposal in Bori main town and the surrounding communities.

The investigation also reveal that, the Bori axis of the Bori, Wiyakara Kono express road is being cut off by heap of refuse.

The Tide also observed that, one of the refuse dumpsites at the back of the Divisional Headquarters of the Nigerian Police Force is fast becoming an eyesore to visitors coming into the city from Kono and Wiyakara axis.

The problem is being compounded by the activities of scavengers who throng the site daily in search of junk, thereby making the dirt to spill on the road.

Some passersby who spoke to The Tide at the site described it as an eyesore, and stressed the need for the authority to rise up to the challenge of checking indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the area.

An indigene of Ogoni, Mr Mene Gbarabe who reacted on the situation in an interview with The Tide in Bori said that, it poses a serious challenge to the people.

Mr Gbarabe who is a Port Harcourt based media practitioner also regretted that, inspite of the effort by the present administration in the state to ensure a clean environment across the state, some persons have formed the habit of dumping refuse at unauthorized places and stressed the need for the Khana Local Government Council to check the indiscrimate dumping of refuse along the Bori Wiyakara Kono road.

The also urged local councils across the state to replicate the clean environment programme of the Administration at the state level in their localities.

Also speaking, Mr Ezekiel Koba, a Bori resident agreed that the situation portends great danger to the health of the people.

Mr Koba also said that, most of those residing in and around the dumpsite seem to be ignorant of its health implication and stressed the need for the police authorities to mount survellance against those indiscriminately dumping refuse in the area.

He also called on the Khana local government area to set up a taskforce to check indiscrimate dumping of refuse not only in Bori urban but other communities across the area.

A student of the Kenule Beeson Saro Wiwa polytechnic Bori who spoke under condition of anonymity said that the problem is not only peculiar to Bori but across the entire region.

According to him, outside Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor other councils do not give much attention to sanitation in their vicinities, stressing that most council chairmen have not heeded the recent calls by the Rivers State Governor Chief Ezenwo Nyesom Wike to ensure regular sanitation in their local government areas.

He claimed that, apart from the institution’s campus where students, regularly organize cleanup, no major cleanup exercise has been organised in Bori and its environs.

According to him, the ministry of environment must step up its sensitization campaigns in the rural areas, while the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWNMA) needs to establish its presence in major cities across the state.

Another respondent, Miss Lera Isaac, also called for the establishment of a committee to check the indiscriminate disposal of refuse in Bori. Miss Isaac also called on the Khana Local Government Council to as a matter of urgency designate a dumpsite in the area, stressing that the current practice of dumping of defuse along the Bori-Wiyakara-Kono road should be discouraged as the situation is not giving the city a good image.

“Let them stop dumping refuse here, it is not good.

“Government should look into this matter and stop people from coming to dump refuse here”, she said.

Other respondents also stressed the need for the authority of Khana local government to close down the dumpsite to avoid the spread of epidemic in the area.

It must be noted that as on emerging city, it is important for the Authorities to note that the attendance consequences of any growing city or Town is increased generation of refuse or wastes that is why the Authorities in Khana must ensure that refuse dumpsites in Bori are properly designated to ensure that they did not become health risk to the inhabitants.

Environment

AEPB Decried Low Performance Of Waste Evacuator In Abuja

Published

2 days ago

March 23, 2026

The Tide

The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) has decried the low performance of the waste evacuation and cleaning contractors, engaged by the Federal Capital Territory Administration to keep Abuja clean.

The Director, Mrs Kate Ogbonna gave the assessment during an interactive session with the contractors in Abuja on Friday.

Ogbonna said she was overwhelmed with unsavoury reports from the supervisors who monitor the daily performance of the cleaning and waste contractors.

“The reports at my disposal from our supervisors, who monitor the performance of the contractors are not too good.”

She called on the contractors to brace up and ensure proper and efficient waste evacuation across the Federal Capital City.

She said that the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, has been keeping his promise of paying the contractors on time, stressing that they, therefore, have no excuse not to deliver on the terms of agreement.

She acknowledged that there could be challenges, which were normal with every job, and advised the contractors to procure more equipment and engage more hands where necessary, to make their job easy and seamless.

The director reminded the contractors that they signed the contracts on grounds that they were capable, and assured them that the Board would assist where necessary.

Ogbonna explained that the meeting was to educate and guide the contractors on the full weight of their duties as waste managers and evacuators.

“We want them to know that there are standards and what we expect from them. We have set rules and agreements guiding their schedules.

“All we want is for the Federal Capital City to be clean,” she said.

She appealed to residents and institutions doing businesses in the capital city to pay their waste and cleaning bills and procure the right size of waste bins commensurate with their residences and business offices.

She noted that waste removal and management was capital intensive, adding that residents need to do their part while the Board do its part.

“You cannot be owing and expect clinical waste removed.

“You cannot also have a bin meant for one household for a block of 10 flats and expect it to hold the waste you generate until the contractor’s trucks come around. It will definitely overflow and mess up the environment.

“To ensure Abuja capital city remains clean, devoid of pollution and epidemic free, all must do their part,” she said.

In his remarks, Mr Benjamin Enwerem, Director, Solid Waste Management, AEPB, said that some of the contractors have complained that most of the waste on the streets was being generated by night traders and funfare operators.

“These traders and funfare operators generate waste and litter the whole area, thereby, forming illegal waste dumps around residential and business areas.

“We have taken notice of this complaint and we will send our task force after them,” Enwerem said.

On the performances of the contractors, Enwerem said that although there were still lapses, the contractors were doing better by the day, noting that additional capable hands have been injected into the cleaning force.

On his part, Chairman, Association of Solid Waste Contractors, Mallam Ibrahim Babayo, acknowledged the unsatisfactory performance of the contractors and promised that they would improve.

Babayo also promised that the contractors would procure modern equipment and employ more hands to improve on routine evacuation of waste.

Environment

Buildings Destroyed, 40 Injured In Lagos and C’Rivers

Published

2 days ago

March 23, 2026

The Tide

No fewer than 40 people sustained injuries, while one person was confirmed dead, in separate tanker-related explosions in Lagos and Cross River states.

In Lagos, the incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday along the Lekki–Epe Expressway, around Ologuro Bus Stop, opposite a filling station in the Sangotedo area.

According to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, a tipper truck rammed into a gas tanker from behind, sparking a massive fire outbreak.

The Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, in a statement, said one person died in the incident, while two others sustained injuries.

“Upon arrival at the scene, it was discovered that a tipper truck rammed into a gas tanker, resulting in a fire outbreak. The driver of the tipper truck died as a result of the impact, while two adult females sustained minor injuries,” he said.

Oke-Osanyintolu attributed the crash to overspeeding and reckless driving, adding that the fire engulfed several roadside shops, causing extensive damage.

Tide source gathered that emergency responders, including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and ambulance officials, were able to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to nearby buildings.

Similarly, the Federal Road Safety Corps, in a statement by the Sector Public Education Officer, Elizabeth Jayeola, confirmed the incident, saying the crash involved a Sinotruck tipper and a Mack trailer.

“A total of four male adults were involved. One person died, one was injured, while two were unhurt. The crash was caused by speed violation, which led to loss of control and collision,” she said.

Jayeola added that the impact triggered a fire that left the tipper driver burnt beyond recognition, while his assistant sustained injuries.

According to her, three warehouses and about 10 roadside shops, including a gym and a generator house, were affected before firefighters brought the situation under control.

Several vehicles, including buses and cars parked within the affected area, were also damaged.

In a separate incident in Calabar, Cross River State, no fewer than 38 persons sustained varying degrees of burns following a gas explosion at a filling station.

The explosion reportedly occurred during the transfer of gas from a storage tank to a service tank when a hose detached, causing gas to leak into the surrounding area.

An eyewitness in a video, Ekanem Essien, described the moment as chaotic, likening the explosion to a bomb blast.

“The only thing we heard was a loud explosion. Everywhere was in confusion. I had to rush my baby out and grab my documents. We could not even reach the fire service in time,” he said.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Sunday Eitokpah, in a statement, said the leakage quickly escalated into a fire, leaving residents with little time to escape.

“Several residents sustained injuries, primarily burns, and those with serious cases have been taken to the Teaching Hospital for treatment,” he said.

Despite the scale of destruction in Calabar, the PPRO confirmed that no death was recorded, while victims were receiving treatment at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.

Environment

Why Buildings Keep Collapsing In Nigeria…. NIOB

Published

1 week ago

March 16, 2026

The Tide

The Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) has attributed the recurring building collapse cases across the country to weak construction laws and failure to hold offenders accountable.

President of the institute, Daniel Kolade, made this known in Abuja at the 2026 Builders Day celebration, themed, “Advocacy and Policy Influence: Towards Sustainable Reforms for a Resilient Built Environment”

He expressed worry that, in spite of concerns over building safety, a key regulatory framework meant to strengthen enforcement within the built environment has remained pending before the National Assembly since 2006.

According to him, the delay has created a situation where those responsible for structural failures often escape punishment.

“Because the enforcement arm of the law is still lying with the National Assembly and has not been passed into law since 2006, the room remains for people to go scot-free when these incidents happen,” Kolade said.

According to Kolade, the lack of consequences encourages negligence on construction sites, as many operators believe little or nothing will happen, even if they violate building regulations.

Kolade cited previous building collapse incidents where, years after the tragedies, no individual had been prosecuted or sanctioned.

“As long as people continue to go free when these things happen, you should expect that it may not stop,” he said.

The NIOB president also said that the growing number of unqualified individuals working on construction sites worsened the problem.

He said it has become common for people without the required training or professional certification to assume technical roles in building projects.

“On most construction sites today, everybody claims to be an engineer, even labourers.

“Without the requisite knowledge and understanding, people just assume roles they are not qualified for,” he said.

Kolade noted that professional builders are regulated by the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON), which has the authority to register practitioners and discipline erring members.

He explained that builders found guilty of professional misconduct should face sanctions, including the withdrawal of their practicing licences.

However, he said the absence of a strong enforcement mechanism outside professional bodies makes it difficult to prosecute developers or project promoters who violate construction standards.

“In Nigeria, only one major case in Lagos saw the building promoter go down with the incident.

“In many other cases across the country, those responsible have walked free,” he said.

Kolade stressed that the built environment consists of several specialised professionals, each with defined responsibilities, including builders, architects and engineers.

He said the NIOB remained committed to promoting professionalism, ethical standards and quality assurance within the building industry.

March 13 is observed annually as Builders’ Day to create public awareness about the roles of professional builders and the importance of engaging qualified professionals in construction projects.