The Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) has responded to a public notice issued by the Mayor of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Sir Allwell Ihunda, calling for urgent action on waste management, insisting it remains fully committed to keeping the city clean.
In a statement the agency said it had not been complacent in discharging its statutory responsibilities across Rivers State, including Port Harcourt, and emphasized that its current board and management team possess the technical expertise required to effectively manage waste operations.
RIWAMA explained that the recent accumulation of refuse in parts of the city followed a temporary two-day disruption by some service providers. It noted that the situation was swiftly addressed through management intervention, which also led to the state governor’s approval of an upward review of payments to contractors.
According to the agency, its intervention team was immediately deployed to affected areas where contractors had halted operations, adding that full waste evacuation services have now been restored across all zones.
The agency expressed disappointment over the mayor’s public notice, describing it as unnecessary and misleading, particularly given existing communication channels between both offices. It maintained that collaboration, rather than public criticism, is essential to sustaining a cleaner Port Harcourt.
RIWAMA further clarified that refuse seen along major routes such as Ikwerre Road and Olu Obasanjo Road was directly linked to the temporary service disruption, which has since been resolved, with contractors resuming duties.
The agency also disclosed that the state government has provided two new dumpsites to ease waste evacuation and confirmed that there are no outstanding payments owed to service providers. It added that plans are underway to relocate operations to a new dumpsite featuring a 2-kilometre concrete access road and reinforced platforms for improved efficiency.
Reaffirming its commitment, RIWAMA called for continuous engagement with the Mayor’s office through established channels to address operational concerns, stressing its dedication to maintaining a cleaner and healthier Garden City.
