Edith CHUKU
Rivers State Waste Management Agency RIWAMA, has reaffirmed its commitment to a cleaner and healthier garden city, emphasizing its steadfastness in discharging its statutory responsibilities across the state.
The agency gave this reaffirmation on Sunday, amid condemnation by residents over poor waste management and mountainous refuse dumps littered all over the state.
RIWAMA revealed that the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has provided two new dumpsites to ease waste evacuation in the state. Also, the agency affirmed that the state government does not owe service providers any outstanding monthly payments.
According to them, the refuse along Ikwerre Road, Olu Obasanjo and other locations were direct consequences of the temporal service disruption by some service providers, which is believed to have been resolved.
RIWAMA condemned a public notice issued by the Mayor of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Allwell Ihunda, calling for urgent action on waste management in Port Harcourt City.
The statement read: “the attention of the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) has been drawn to the public notice issued by the office of the mayor, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, dated 18th April, 2026.
“RIWAMA categorically states that it is equal to the task and has remained steadfast in discharging its statutory responsibilities in Rivers State, including Port Harcourt City. The agency has not been, and will not be, complacent in its mandate to keep our state clean.
“We also wish to notify you that the current board and management team of RIWAMA comprises highly qualified persons who possess the technical expertise required to do the work.”
The agency revealed that “the recent two-day operational pause by some service providers was immediately addressed by management intervention.
“This intervention reaffirmed the commitment of his excellency, the governor, to approve an upward review of service providers’ payments based on management’s recommendations.
“Please, note that the agency’s intervention team has been working in the isolated areas where contractors refused to work. However, full operations has been restored. We thank his excellency, the governor of Rivers State, for his intervention.
“RIWAMA expresses deep disappointment at the issuance of a public notice casting aspersions on the agency following contractors’ failure, despite the mayor’s direct access to RIWAMA’s leadership and established channels of communication.
“It is on record that RIWAMA has made deliberate efforts to collaborate with the Port Harcourt City Local Government, just as we are doing with Obio-Akpor LGA in carrying out waste management duties. Due diligence, therefore, demanded that clarifications be sought before publicizing views that do not reflect the realities on the ground.
“RIWAMA reiterates that inter-agency cooperation, not public misrepresentation, is key to sustaining a cleaner Port Harcourt.
“The refuse observed along Ikwerre Road, Olu Obasanjo Road, and other mentioned locations was a direct consequence of the temporal service disruption by some service providers, which has been resolved. Our intervention team immediately commenced evacuation while most service providers have also resumed duty across all zones.
“Furthermore, his excellency has provided two new dumpsites to ease waste evacuation in the tate, also the governor does not owe service providers any outstanding monthly payments. Request by management for upward review is also being considered by the governor.
“RIWAMA is finalizing relocation to a new dumpsite equipped with a 2km concrete access road and reinforced platforms designed for efficient and safe operations.
“We remain open to continuous engagement with the mayor’s office and urge that existing communication channels be utilized for operational feedback before resorting to public statements.”
