The Rivers State Waste Management Agency, RIWAMA, has sought the support of the Rivers State Police Command in its renewed efforts to curb indiscriminate waste disposal and enforce environmental sanitation laws in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas.
The Managing Director of RIWAMA, Dr Ibimina Wokoma, led the agency’s management team on a courtesy and working visit to the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, at the Police Headquarters on Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.
The meeting focused on strengthening collaboration between the two agencies on enforcement and public enlightenment as part of efforts to restore Port Harcourt’s Garden City status.
Wokoma said RIWAMA had been engaging communities, paramount rulers, youths and other critical stakeholders to change public attitudes towards waste disposal.
“Since the inception of this present board, we have been engaging with communities, Paramount Rulers, Youths and critical stakeholders on waste management across Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor,” he said.
He said the engagements were aimed at promoting proper bagging and timely disposal of waste, while discouraging the activities of cart pushers and scavengers, as well as dumping refuse in drainages, under flyovers, medians and other unauthorised locations.
The RIWAMA boss said the agency could not achieve a clean and healthy environment without strategic partnerships, particularly with security agencies.
He added that the Police Community Relations Committee, PCRC, had also expressed its commitment to supporting RIWAMA’s sensitisation drives and community engagements.
Responding, CP Olugbenga Adepoju pledged the full support of the Rivers State Police Command to RIWAMA’s enforcement activities.
The Commissioner described indiscriminate waste dumping as not only an environmental offence but also a security and public health threat, noting that a clean environment contributes to crime prevention and public safety.
He assured RIWAMA that the Command would deploy personnel to support the agency’s task force during enforcement operations and ensure that offenders who violate the state’s environmental laws are prosecuted.
Adepoju, however, stressed the need for enforcement to be complemented by sustained public sensitisation.
“Enforcement alone cannot solve it. We must enlighten our people. I advise RIWAMA to embark on massive sensitization and awareness programs across Port Harcourt and ObioAkpor Local Government Areas of the state, using traditional institutions, churches, mosques, markets, schools and the media. When people understand the ‘why’, compliance becomes easier,” the CP said.
The Police Commissioner commended the RIWAMA board for its community-based approach and pledged the Command’s readiness to partner with the agency towards achieving a cleaner and safer Rivers State.
At the end of the meeting, both agencies resolved to establish a joint enforcement and enlightenment committee to harmonise their operations and commence a statewide campaign against indiscriminate waste disposal in the coming weeks.
