The Managing Director of the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA), Dr Ibimina Wokoma, has said Waste Management is Key to Flood Prevention
Dr Wokoma made the statement in his Independence Day message to residents of Rivers State and Nigerians.
He urged residents to treat proper waste disposal as a civic responsibility. He said cleaner surroundings would also help reduce waste-related environmental problems.
According to him, residents and businesses should stop dumping refuse in gutters, drains and water channels.
He said indiscriminate dumping can block waterways and restrict the movement of rainwater.
Dr Wokoma also urged residents to avoid using informal waste collectors, commonly known as cart pushers, who operate outside approved waste-disposal arrangements.
He said residents who give their waste to such operators risk contributing to improper disposal and related environmental problems.
“Independence signifies freedom,” Dr Wokoma said. He urged Rivers residents to use the occasion to embrace proper waste-disposal practices.
However, Dr Wokoma clarified RIWAMA’s current responsibilities regarding flooding.
He said RIWAMA is not currently responsible for flood control, drainage construction or the desilting and cart-away of drains.
Those responsibilities are separate from the agency’s present mandate.
Instead, RIWAMA focuses on waste management, refuse evacuation, road sweeping, monitoring and public sensitisation on proper waste disposal.
Therefore, Waste Management Key to Flood Prevention remains relevant to the agency’s public education efforts because improperly discarded waste can obstruct drainage channels.
Dr Wokoma reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to promoting a cleaner Rivers State. He also called on residents to follow approved waste-disposal procedures.
The RIWAMA management urged residents to work with the agency by disposing of waste properly and avoiding practices that can create environmental hazards.
The message formed part of RIWAMA’s activities to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
