World
Environment Day and the RIWAMA story
The world celebrated the
World Environment Day on Monday the 5th of June 2017. This day
which is set aside by resolution 2997 of the United Nations General Assembly to
ratify the recommendations made at the Stockolm Conference on Human Environment
has since 1972 been celebrated globally. Nigeria been a signatory to the
ratification, is also not left out in the celebration of the the World
Environmental Day.
In Rivers state, the
case is not different as successive governments been aware of the environmental
challenges which the state is forced to contend with as a result of industrial
activities especially in the oil and gas sector, has continued to celebrate the
World Environmental Day. As much as this day is celebrated, it is imperative
that we as citizens continue to evaluate and reevaluate how we can make the
state environmental friendly so as to key into the theme of this year’s celebration
which is ‘Connecting people To Nature’.
Talking about the theme
of this year’s celebration and the situation in Rivers state, it is important
that we look at one agency that is a key player in sanitizing the environment
in the state which is the Rivers State Waste Management Agency RIWAMA. The story
of RIWAMA since the present administration in the state came into being can
best be described as a success story as far as the people of the state is
concerned. This is considering the efficiency and effectiveness which the
agency has put in place to sanitizing the state especially the capital city and
its environs. The regular sweeping of major streets in the state, disposing of
refuse as well as excavation of drainage within the state has endeared people
to the workings of the agency. This is not to talk about the sensitiasation of
residents of the state as to the proper disposing of refuses by the agency. Prior
to the start of the rainy season this year, it is on record that the agency
carried out massive excavation of drainage systems along major roads in Port Harcourt.
This is why the effects of the massive rains have not affected roads like
Ikwerre Road, Aba road and others which hitherto had suffered serious flooding.
The fact that the state
has hardly held the customary sanitation day exercise and yet has continually
remained clean, beautiful and habitable has made the performance of RIWAMA the
more commendable.
The clean environment revolution
of the state under Barr. Nyesom Wike was highlighted by Dr. Mofoluso Fagbeja of
the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) who gave the
lecture at the Celebration of the World Environmental Day at the Obi Wali
International Conference Center in Port Harcourt the Rivers State capital. Dr.
Fagbeja posited that the state since the last time he visited, has worn a new
and better look compared to what it looked like before. His position has been
reiterated by other visitors and stakeholders within the state.
That Rivers state is
relatively clean today is because the Rivers state government and the Rivers
state Waste Management Agency RIWAMA under the efficient leadership of Bro.
Felix Obuah is doing a lot to tackle the issue of waste management which is
very critical to the management of the environment.
But be that as it may, it
is important that we as a people not only the government look beyond the
physical. We should try to address the intangible aspect of the environment
which destroys the environment and the health of the people. To this end, I
want to see a situation whereby the enforcement of extant laws against those
who commit environmental crimes by polluting the environment are brought to
book. The issue of the black soot which has become a topical issue in the state
since last year should be addressed seriously because of its imminent danger to
the health of the people not only now but in the future. As much as the efforts
of the state government in tackling this issue is commendable, the people of
the state will like to see more efforts being put in place to address this environmental scourge
before it takes a worse dimension.
It is also very
important that while we as citizens of the state appreciate the efforts of the
state government in keeping the state clean, we should realize that government alone
cannot achieve the clean environment that we crave for. The citizens should see
themselves as environmental watch dogs and raise alarm whenever they see
anybody desecrating the environment.
To this end, I will
once again state that as we celebrate this year’s World Environmental Day, the
Rivers State government under the able and dynamic leadership of Chief Barr.
Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike and the Rivers State Waste Management Agency RIWAMA under
the puposeful leadership of Bro. Felix Obuah has done well in keeping the state
clean and deserves strong commendation for their efforts.
I agree that there is
room for improvement but while we look towards that, we should not fail to
appreciate what is been done towards sanitizing the state for the benefit of present
and future generations.
Comrade Nwokoma Messiah
is an environmental activist and contributed this piece from Port Harcourt
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