NAN-AE-19
Drains
By Azubiike Okeh
Port Harcourt, March 23, 2017 (NAN) Mr Felix Obuah, the Sole Administrator, Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA), on Thursday warned people of the state against dumping refuse in drainage channels and waterways.
Obua made the call in Port Harcourt, while commenting on the recurrent flooding in some parts of the state, particularly after heavy rainfall.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some portions of the Port Harcourt/Aba Expressway and the Ikwerre Road in Port Harcourt recently became inundated after a downpour.
NAN also reports that the Nkpogu junction on Aba road and the Mile-One market area of Ikwerre road got flooded after an early morning rain on Thursday.
Obua said that the state waste management agency had identified unhealthy refuse disposal habits of some residents as the major cause of flooding in urban centres.
He said that the state government had taken several steps to address the menace of flooding in the state.
“We are just not comfortable with the unfriendly environmental attitudes of some residents of the state.
“How can people take delight in dumping garbage in drains and major waterways; how do we expect rainwater to find its way into the creeks?’’ he asked.
Obuah said that RIWAMA would continue to stage public awareness campaigns to sensitise the people to the need to embrace proper waste disposal habits.
“Making the environment healthy is our collective duty; we must stop dumping waste in waterways so as to avert blockage of drains and flooding,’’ he said. (NAN)
AZU/DOE/OOK
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Edited by Dianabasi Effiong and Dayo Komolafe