The Sole Administrator of the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA), Bro. Felix Obuah says the agency has discovered that most of the illegal refuse dumps along major roads in Port Harcourt, the state capital and its environs have been traced to the sharp practices of private service providers that are not registered with RIWAMA.
Obuah, in a statement in Port Harcourt, warned that the agency seriously frowned at such irresponsible practices hence adequate measures had been put in place to stop such ugly trend.
He said in as much as the agency would want to encourage private participation in solid waste management in the state, as a way of providing an enabling environment in the industry, private service providers should endeavour to work in strict compliance with laid down environmental rules and regulations in the state.
Consequently, the RIWAMA boss has directed all private service providers engaged in solid waste management in the state to immediately register with the Rivers State Waste Management Agency and operate within stipulated guidelines.
Obuah further disclosed that an enforcement team had been constituted and would begin to arrest any private service provider found operating in the state but not registered with the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA).
The RIWAMA sole administrator also warned private service providers to take note of the directive and comply accordingly.
He said the cooperation of all and sundry was solicited as that was the only way to reciprocate the good gesture of Governor Nyesom Wike, who has invested huge resources to ensure a clean and healthy state.