The monthly sanitation exercise in Rivers State adopted for a cleaner and more friendly environment would not hold this Saturday, October 4, as earlier announced by the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA).
The postponement of the exercise, The Atlantic Bell learnt is to enable the Agency adopt a more standard and pragmatic approach to the issue of waste management in the state.
Chairman of the board of RIWAMA, Samuel Nwanosike told newsmen shortly after emerging from a meeting with the state governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, that the monthly sanitation exercise will be put on hold until further notice. He said the governor directed that the agency should adopt a humane approach to the exercise.
“The governor wants a different approach and to put a human face and make sure that the people see through waste management and to give them the best of it”.
He said: “Subsequently, we also want to seize the opportunity to inform the people of Rivers State that the initially proposed environmental sanitation exercise scheduled to hold on October 4, is hereby put off until further notice. This is to allow us build more capacity in tackling the issues of waste management in the State.”
He said that Governor Fubara has pledged sustainable environmental cleanliness as the Chairman, Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA), Dr. Samuel Nwanosike, announced the suspension of the mandatory sanitation exercise in the state shortly after meeting with the governor.
Nwanosike, a former Chairman of Ikwerre Local Givernment Area, had on assumption of office as the RIWAMA boss announced compulsory monthly sanitation exercise amidst public outcry against the approach.
Nwanosike said the governor is desirous of clean healthy environment for the people and had ordered actions to be taken against some challenges like the habit of blocking drains.
He said Gov. Fubara also assured the agency of all the support it needs to keep the environment clean and to carry out its daily activities adding that the governor has promised to assist the agency with new dumpsites.
He said: “It is the governor’s wish that the people live in good health. He is also aware of the little challenges as it concerns blocking of the drains which are activities caused by our people who use their refuse to block our drains.
“His Excellency has also given directives on the actions to take and after now Rivers people will enjoy the dividends of democracy in waste management.
“The actions of making sure that our refuse are properly managed, provision of new dump sites, properly managed dump sites and giving us all the infrastructure we need to make sure that we are able to give the needed results.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of the Agency, Dr. Ibimila Wokoma said they met with the governor to brief him on the activities of the agency.
