The Rivers State Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Nyema Weli, has attributed the problem of flood to residents of the state.
In a chat with the journalists during this month environmental sanitation exercise in Port Harcourt, Dr. Weli frowned at the manner which residents throw their wastes recklessly on the drainages, noting that it blocks the water ways, thereby causing flood in the state.
The Hon. Commissioner however called on the residents of the state to assist the state government, the state Ministry of Environment to combat the problem of flood by inculcating the habit of packaging their wastes in proper designated dumping grounds and ensure that water ways are free of blockages to avoid flood in the state.
Dr. Nyema noted that the ministry is ready to tackle the problem of flood.
According to him, “the state government is aware of the challenges of flood and we are up to the task to see that our people are not turned to refugees in their land because of flood”.
Dr. Weli recalled that recently about 300 persons were sacked by the flood and that the state government did not fold their hands but rather, provided relief materials and temporary place for them, stressing that government is not sleeping and is doing the best to protect the residents of the state.
He noted that the residents’ inability to obey the law of sanitation by not cleaning their drainages worsens the situation.
In a related development, the chairman of Rivers State environmental sanitation authority, Mr. Isoboye Jack, has expressed dismay over the attitude of the residents of the state towards cleaning their environment and noncompliance with the mandatory environmental sanitation exercise.
Mr. Jack however, enjoined residents of the state to turn a new leaf by participating actively during sanitation exercises, clean their environments to avoid blockages of water ways and obey all environmental laws to ensure that Rivers State achieves its target of maintaining the position of the cleanest state in the federation. ###
Emeka Jilly Ejiowhor
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