Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has announced a definitive plan to permanently move the primary dumpsite situated along the heavily used Port Harcourt Airport–Obiri-Ikwerre Road.
The governor stated that the current site presents both a major public health risk and a negative initial impression for visitors entering the state capital.
Fubara made the commitment yesterday during a site inspection of a potential replacement location.
The proposed site is a disused borrow pit near Bambo Estate, off Eneka Road in Igwuruta, within the Ikwerre Local Government Area, which is currently being evaluated as the state’s new, permanent waste disposal facility.
Accompanied by the Chairman of the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) Board, Samuel Nwanosike, and the Managing Director, Ibimina Wokoma, Fubara expressed deep concern over the environmental and health issues emanating from the existing site, especially since it lies on a crucial entry road.
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“The kind of environmental hazards that we are facing there along the Airport–Obiri- Ikwerre Road; the smell on that road being the entrance into the state, we felt it’s not proper,” the governor said.
He confirmed the government is “making alternative arrangements so we can have a permanent refuse dumpsite that meets acceptable standards.”
Fubara pledged swift action to formalise the government’s ownership of the land and to complete the necessary construction of the access road to make the new site operational.
“We have not concluded the issue of the burrow pit, but the access road. I think the government is doing something about it. So, I will make sure that everything that needs to be done to ensure the government owns this burrow pit is done,” he assured.
The governor also took the opportunity to commend the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) for its “more assertive and improved” approach to managing refuse collection and disposal throughout the state.
In addition to the dumpsite inspection, the governor also assessed the progress of ongoing construction work at the Permanent Secretaries’ Quarters located in Elimgbu Town, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
