The 2012 World Environmental day has come and gone with pomp and pageantry, but the memories still linger.
One of the objectives of this year’s World Environmental Day celebration was to promote positive attitude towards environmental issues and education.
In fact, concerted efforts had been put in place by the present administration in the state aimed at enhancing the lost glory of the Garden City.
For some time now, one major problem which constitutes a nuisance on the environment is ineffective drainage system.
While the efforts of the Federal and State governments for providing good roads should be appreciated, there is the need to express regrets on the deplorable condition of our gutters in the slate capital and its environs.
It is pertinent to note that gutters were provided for, in some areas with a view to alleviating the flood and erosion on our roads, but unfortunately these gutters are never taken care of.
Interestingly, the setting aside of the first Saturday of every new month and every Thursday on each week for traders for environmental sanitation is normally the climax of efforts to clean up the environment within thirty days.
During the three hour exercise, rubbish heaps are evacuated while blocked drains are also cleared.
In addition, at that period, everyone is expected to carry out the cleaning of his or her environment.
Even the staff whose duty it was to clean the refuse dumps were also alive to their responsibilities.
But the worrying trend is that people no longer come out in the way they used to. Instead of cleaning the environment, children prefer to play football and carry out other sporting activities surprisingly under the un-reproachful eyes of their parents.
There is also free movement of people without regard to the restriction. Take for instance the local areas where instead of observing the sanitation day, people engage in burial ceremonies.
However, successive governments have made attempts to solve this drainage problem, but it persists.
This is because of the attitude of the public in the indiscriminate dumping of refuse into the gutters carelessly which constitutes unhealthy-environment and thus makes water impossible to pass though.
Our environment is ravaged by flood and erosion.
Also, in recent times, some people go about their business as if the beauty of the state or where they reside does not matter and as if the repulsive odour from refuse heaps and the attendant health hazards mean nothing.
Furthermore, illegal shanty structures have been erected indiscriminately on the drainage throughout the city and its environs despite the efforts of the Urban and environment ministries in the state.
Junk and broken down vehicles are abandoned everywhere and these also constitute environmental hazard.
The roadside mechanics, blocks, traders, food sellers, all constitute to the deteriorating features of the sanitation drive in the city with their wretched shelters
After all, a clean environment is the ideal place for healthy growth for all and sundry, thus its importance can therefore not be over-emphasized.
It is worrisome that anytime there is rainfall, our roads and streets are flooded so much so that the people residing in those areas find it difficult to drive out of their homes.
Touched by the incident of flooding, the present administration in the state had put in place measures aimed at enhancing the lost glory of the Garden city
Recently, the State Environment Commissioner, the Chairman, Rivers State Environmental Sanitation Authority and the Chairman House Committee on Environment in the State House of Assembly, had attributed the problem of flooding in the state to the attitude of the inhabitants and called for change of attitude.
But the persistent dumping of refuse into the gutters made nonsense of the state government efforts which is expected to turn the ugly sanitary situation around for good.
This is evident in the appointment of private sector participation scheme in evacuating the refuse, cleaning of the gutters among others by the present administration in the state.
By this arrangement, the state was divided into wards and allocated to the private sector operators who were expected to go round to evacuate the refuse and clean the gutters
Now that we are in the rainy season, efforts should be geared towards providing gutters in most streets and be sure to keep them clean with a view to allowing easy flow of water out to the sea.
Luckily enough, the present administration and the NOOC are providing effective drainage system in the state capital and its environs arid the efforts are praise worthy
In the same vein all illegal shanty structures still on ground across the state preventing the easy flow of water to the sea should be demolished.
Also, all the illegal constructions which covered rain water outlets should be removed.
This is to avoid flood in those areas and in addition to halt the unhealthy situation in the state capital and its environs.
Finally, the time has come for every conscious citizen of the state to desist from attitudes inimical to cleaner and safer environment and assist the government in its attempt to provide a decent environment to the masses.
Written By: Felix B. I. George
