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World Environment Day and the RIWAMA story

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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