The Rivers State Environmental Sanitation Authority has concluded plans to re-introduce house to house sanitary inspection.
Speaking at a one-day stakeholders forum on waste management in Port Harcourt, the chairman of the Rivers State Environmental Sanitation Authority, Mr. Isoboye Jack noted that there is need to re-introduce house to house sanitary inspection to actualize its target of restoring Port Harcourt City to its Garden City Status.
The sanitation boss who hinted that the review of the extant sanitation laws is already in progress aimed at making the laws more relevant to current realities, stressed that there would be more mobile/sanitation courts where defaulters would be prosecuted.
According to him, other measures put in place by the sanitation authority to ensure clean environment in the Port Harcourt metropolis includes creation of a pilot.scheme zone, commercial door to door collection system, changing the method of payment to refuse contractors.
Mr. Isobo Jack who disclosed that the theme of the stakeholders forum was “Waste Management in Port Harcourt Metropolis: Assessment and Feedbook,” stressed that it was apt and timely in the light of the current poor waste management system which has diminished the impact of the massive urban renewal program of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
“It is time to clean up Port Harcourt, with understanding that unless we have all hands in desk, our aspiration to return Port Harcourt to its former status as the Garden city of Nigeria would remain a dream. The time has come therefore for us to examine ourselves and take appropriate decision, as government and as citizens to confront our challenges and assume our responsibility,” he stated.
In a chat with journalists Mr. Isoboye Jack noted that refuse is a general problem which affects all communities in the world including America, USA among others stressing that the only problem is how to manage it properly and that once we know how to manage it “We have solved the problem of refuse.”
In his speech, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the governor of Rivers State who commended the state sanitation authority management for organizing the forum aimed at ensuring clean environment, encourage them to organize it in every six months.
Governor Amaechi who was represented by his wife, Dame Judith Amaechi noted that cleanliness is next to godliness and enjoined all residents of the state to ensure clean environment in their domain.
Governor Amaechi advised stakeholders, market women and residents of Port Harcourt to always participate in the forum as to be educated on how to clean their environment.
He commended the sanitation authority for its job creation, noting that the authority has employed over 2,000 persons and advised that women should be carried along as well.
In her goodwill message, Hon. Victoria Wobo Nyeche, the lawmaker representing Phalga constituency 1 in the state House of Assembly who is also the chairman House Committee on Environmental Sanitation, expressed delight for being part of the programme, noting that the management of the sanitation authority cannot clean port Harcourt alone, except with the cooperation of the public. She enjoined everyone to ensure that Port Harcourt is made clean, assuring that every legislative frame work to assist the authority actualize its goal of sanitizing Port Harcourt would be in place.
Hon. Chimbiko Akarolo, the Mayor of Port Harcourt, Hon. Joe Poroma, the Rivers State Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, representatives of market women, among others who spoke at the ceremony, commended the sanitation authority for organizing the forum and assured that they would partner with the authority to ensure clean environment in the state.
In a related development the chairman of the Rivers State Environmental Sanitation Authority, Mr. Isoboye Jack has commended refuse contractors for their quick response in evacuation of waste.
Mr. Jack made the commendation while chatting with newsmen during this month’s environmental sanitation exercise in Port Harcourt.
The sanitation chairman who spoke through his press secretary, Mr. Olalekan Ige, expressed delight over the development and urged the contractors not to relent in ensuring that wastes are evacuated on time to allow asses of vehicles and passengers on the roads.
He urged residents of Port Harcourt to cooperate with the sanitation authority to ensure that Port Harcourt is clean. ###
Emeka Jilly Ejiowhor
