RIWAMA Specifies Areas Of Waste Management

The State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) has clarified that its waste management areas are only Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas.
A statement by Jerry Nedam, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Sole Administrator of RIWAMA, said the clarification followed several calls drawing the attention of the State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) to some heaps of wastes in parts of the State outside the two local government areas of Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor, the agency manages.
According to the statement, though as the State Waste Management Agency, the evacuation of wastes by the Agency is limited to only Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas, the agency had provided receptacles at designated points across the adjoining local government areas but is not responsible for the evacuation of wastes in areas outside Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor LGAs.
“It should also be noted that on Port Harcourt/Aba Expressway, RIWAMA is only responsible for evacuation of wastes up to lNTELS and from that point covering the entire Oyigbo is under the purview of Oyigbo Local Government. The same applies to Etche Local Government Area.
“Also, the RIWAMA operation does not cover from Akpajo to Trailer Park and other areas in Eleme Local Government Area. It is under the purview of Eleme Local Government Council.
“Equally, Aluu is under Ikwerre Local Government Area and RIWAMA does not evacuate wastes in Aluu and other areas in Ikwerre Local Government Area.
“It is the responsibility of the council chairmen to evacuate wastes in their local government areas, apart from Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas to which the operation of RIWAMA is confined.
The statement claims that the agency had been inundated with calls from concerned citizens, some, disparaging and heaping blames on the Agency for turning blind eyes to such heaps of wastes, adding that in as much as “we are not trying to shy away from our responsibility and oversight functions, it is only wise to clear the air on the issue as it is more profitable to sensitise the relevant councils and departments to such emergencies and health risks.
“We have also noted with dismay that these concerned councils and departments seem to be enjoying the buck-passing rather than do the needful by clearing these wastes having been so reminded.
“This is therefore an eye-opener, besides a directive to those so concerned and those who appear to have made it a habit to blame RIWAMA for every imaginable and unimaginable dereliction of duties not minding who is responsible”.
It thanked those who showed concern and called the attention of the agency for information and inquiries and assured that RIWAMA, would continue to deliver on the mandate for which it was created with every sense of responsibility, leveraging on the support of the State Governor, Chief Nyesom Woke.
It urged all the relevant departments, councils and stakeholders to give priority attention to the health of all residents in the State by doing their beats as well as ensuring that everybody living and doing business in the State keeps their homes, offices, markets, etc clean and healthy for all.