PRESS STATEMENT
No fewer than 16 individuals found themselves facing legal repercussions before the mobile court of the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) for breaching environmental regulations in Port Harcourt and it’s environs.
According to the RIWAMA enforcement team, the offenders were apprehended across various locations within the city.
Presiding over the court proceedings, Magistrate Helen Handy oversaw the arraignment process.
Of the accused, three were discharged, while the remaining faced fines or potential sentences in correctional facilities after being found guilty of offenses related to environmental degradation.
Mono Okonu, the legal advisor to RIWAMA, emphasized that the intent behind such legal actions was not to target individuals but rather to deter littering and promote cleanliness in Port Harcourt.
Okonu urged residents to support governmental initiatives aimed at restoring the city’s status as a “garden city.”
He stated that the court was established to enforce RIWAMA’s laws, emphasizing its role in deterring indiscriminate dumping in the streets.
Stating that environmental offenses include littering, dumping, and urinating in unauthorized areas, the lead council praised the Acting Sole Administrator for his proactive approach to maintaining city cleanliness.
Reacting to the developments, the Special Advisor to the governor on Environmental Sanitation and Acting Sole Administrator of RIWAMA, Honorable Prince Obi Ohia, expressed regret over the situation.
He stressed the importance of enforcing the law to maintain orderliness within the city and called upon citizens to collaborate with the government in preserving a clean environment.
Signed:
Obed Douglas
Special Assistant on Electronic Media to Hon Prince Obi Ohia, Acting Sole Administrator, (RIWAMA)
Thursday, 9th May, 2024.
