By Dianabasi Effiong

Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, has constituted the Board of Directors of the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) and its Managing Director in Port Harcourt with a charge to them to replace the open dumping of wastes with a more innovative and efficient disposal method that will take waste off the streets and turn them income-yielding ventures.

The Board members included Edward Namiesimagh (Chairman), Bishop Best, Dr. Ipalibo Sogules, Richard Mazi, and Civian Y. Nwibari (Board members), with Orukwem Amadi-Oparaeli as the Managing Director.

The Governor also said that waste disposal and management were major global concern, adding that over the years, successive administrations in the State had struggled to take wastes off the streets but ended up taking them to other dumpsites where they constituted nuisance and environmental hazards.

He said, “Today, I am here putting a team together to look at these challenges differently. Let it not be the regular pattern whereby at the end of the month, you come to collect money from me for payments.

“Don’t indulge in appointing your friends as sweepers, evacuators of debris, then you start building hotels, or buying big cars. Let us go beyond that and tap into the potentials of waste management.

“It is an area in this world that there is so much money in. It is an area that creates employment, and generates huge revenue. It is not just depending on what I will give to you. Consider what change you’ll bring to the work, that’s what I want to see in Rivers State.”

Fubara told them that they were carefully selected because of the experiences they had garnered in their previous public assignments.

He urged them to replicate their successes on a bigger scale with the new appointment.

The governor advised them to work assiduously to bring back the beauty of Port Harcourt with effective waste disposal drive, and ensure the city remained clean and green to reflect its old Garden City status.

Fubara said: “If not for our effort, today, some people could have even changed it to become Garbage City. But God forbid, it is not going to be in our own time.

“I want you to understand that I feel very unhappy with the sight I see. When you are driving into Port Harcourt, one of the first things that will welcome you is the waste dump that you see along the Obiri-Ikwerre-Airport Road. I don’t feel happy about it.

“Your first task should be to relocate it. That particular place needs to be completely closed because it is the entrance to the city. You need to get a new place where we can relocate our wastes.”

The governor, who urged them to be more responsible in discharging their assignment, said that it was more important to see results than being merely preoccupied with the aura of office.

Fubara said that he would remove anyone found wanting, and return the agency back to the era of a sole administrator running the affairs of the agency.

He said, “This team cuts across all the Senatorial Districts, so that whatever you are going to do there, you ensure it spreads. While you are also carrying out this job, let it be known to the world that the interest of everybody in the State is accommodated.

“It shouldn’t be one-sided. Make sure that all our supporters who have the capacity and competence to do little jobs in the refuse area are also accommodated. I am serious. I have no doubt that you are going to impress us. So, I charge you to do all you can to make sure that the face of Port Harcourt changes when it comes to the issue of refuse.”

He urged them to be good ambassadors of his administration as they interfaced with members of the public while also changing the face of refuse management in the State.

In his acceptance speech, Chairman of Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA), Engr. Edward Namiesimagh, expressed appreciation to the Governor, on behalf of members of the Board, for finding them worthy to handle such difficult but surmountable task of keeping Port Harcourt clean.

He said, “When I see the calibre of people you assembled, all of us are happy, and I assure that with our period of experience in our fields and politics and interaction with people and the zeal that comes with this job, we assure you that we will do our best to make sure that the policy of restoring Port Harcourt to its lost glory is achieved with your support.”

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