…Frowns On Blockage Of Waterways, Channels
The monitoring team of the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) today, September 23, 2021 apprehended one Dumo William Jack at about 10.05am discharging a large quantity of wastes along William Jumbo Street behind Government House, Old GRA, behind Government House, Port Harcourt, after the Service Provider in charge of the area had evacuated the wastes.
Aided by the Police from the Agency who were quickly alerted to the scene, the monitoring team was able to arrest Dumo William Jack who had defied the sanitation law of dumping wastes only between the hours of 6pm to 12midnight and at the approved receptacles strategically located in different locations in the State capital and its environs.
In spite of repeated pleas and media campaigns by RIWAMA on the need to join hands to decongest streets and roads in Port Harcourt and other parts of the State of garbage, some residents have continued to turn deaf ears to the calls.
Only two days ago, most streets and roads in Port Harcourt were flooded following a heavy downpour that lasted for hours which could be partly attributed to blockage of waterways and channels, resulting in massive diversion of water from its natural routes into offices, houses and even overtaking some roads and market places, etc.
RIWAMA Sole Administrator, Bro Felix Obuah regretted the situation, calling it deliberate attempt to sabotage government efforts to make the state environmentally friendly and healthier for all residents.
He warned that the Agency has done everything humanly possible to make residents see reason and be civil in their conduct, and will no longer hesitate to deal decisively with any person(s) caught in this destructive act of indiscriminate dumping of wastes notwithstanding their social status or circumstance prompting the action.
The Agency has vowed to prosecute Mr. Dumo William Jack to serve as determent to others who are into such acts.
Jerry Needam
Special Adviser on Media and Publicity toBro. Felix Obuah, Sole Administrator,Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA).
Thursday, September 23, 2021
RIWAMA COMMITTED THE CRIME NOT ME
After posting my picture and name on the internet RIWAMA ought to accurately report the crime I committed or accept liability of a crime. It is unbelievable that all the six paragraphs in the publication misled the public into believing that I committed a crime:
1. RIWAMA claimed that it apprehended me while discharging a large quantity of waste but the picture it posted on the net shows the black plastic bag of household waste I dropped in its receptacle. The term “a large quantity of wastes” does not describe it. How much waste could the RIWAMA recommended ‘refuse bag’ hold in order to be described as ‘large’?
2. The report claimed that I dumped the waste after the service provider in charge of the area had evacuated the waste but if you take a look at the picture RIWAMA posted on the internet, you will find that the plastic bag I dropped in the receptacle was insignificant compared to other refuse in the bin including a heap of dry sticks which were fresh when they were initially dumped months ago.
3. The report claimed that by dumping the waste, I defied the sanitation laws that required me to do so from 6.00 pm to 12.00 midnight. I am not aware if time to dump is specified in the RIWAMA Laws No. 2 of 2014 as approved by the Rivers State House of Assembly. Timing may be contained in RIWAMA regulations, which is not a State law that prescribed the defamatory punishment meted out to me.
4. RIWAMA claimed that I gave deaf ears to its campaign to rid the streets and roads of Port Harcourt of garbage. This is not true. I disposed household refuse in RIWAMA recommended way and place like other responsible citizens. I did not dispose refuse on the road or street to warrant being treated like a criminal.
5. RIWAMA described my action as a deliberate attempt to sabotage government effort in making the environment healthier. My action was not ‘deliberate’ in any sense of the word. There were occasions I took the risk of confronting drivers of vehicles where passengers threw papers from the window. I know where I am from. Nobody loves Rivers State more than us. RIWAMA should find out my passion for Rivers State in the Ministry of Lands and Survey, P.H. where I retired as Permanent Secretary.
6. RIWAMA described my act as destructive and vowed to prosecute me to deter others even after giving me an embarrassing punishment of forcefully taking photographs of me and posting it on the internet. This is a punishment the Sanitation Court would not recommend. My humiliation by RIWAMA is against Part I (h) of its laws which expects RIWAMA not to protect only the service providers but also the consumers of the services. We live in a country where people use the power and wealth of the citizens to intimidate and bully the citizens. But, God will use someone somewhere to help me fight this battle.
Thank you friends for following up on this matter.
This is the last comment I wish to post on my experience as I keep receiving more local and international calls on the incident. I find professionalism in elanhub.net for pulling down my pictures in the publication.
Yes, I committed no crime by dropping a plactic bag of household refuse in a RIWAMA designated receptacle along William Jumbo Street, P.H. The onus is for RIWAMA to prove that I knew it was the wrong time.
But, it is defamation, digital kidnapping and cyber-bullying for RIWAMA officials to assault me, extort me and forcefully take snapshots of me and post my pictures on the internet along with unprovable news. One of the pictures depicted me as a criminal with hands tied behind him. Relations, associates and friends are advised to control their emotions as I wait to be prosecuted by RIWAMA by a Sanitation Court in a few days. Thank you all
For the attention of those who know me especially many of you who called me on the day of this publication, please note that the allegations are half truth.
I have gone through RIWAMA Laws No. 2 of 2014 and did not find where my action of dumping household refuse in a plastic bag at a RIWAMA designated receptacle constituted a punishable offence to justify the treatment I received from RIWAMA.
What is in dispute is the “time of dumping”. Some of us dump household refuse in RIWAMA receptacles on our way to work without knowing that RIWAMA requires us to do so after work i.e. from 6.00pm. I didn’t find the dumping time in the law, though.
This notwithstanding, publishing my name in the media in this matter without truly reporting the facts is demeaning and defamatory. Whoever took delight in treating me so, may God forgive them.
Dumo William Jack
Thank you for considering my side of this matter worthy of publication but note that the picture RIWAMA forcefully took of me on the said day was uploaded yesterday on the news portraying me like a criminal whose hands are bound behind him. Someone Georgia informed me though. Haba! There is no justification for this level of disgrace.