Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has vowed to relocate the popular Obiri-Ikwerre dumpsite along the Airport Road over environmental concerns.
Governor Fubara stated this on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, during an inspection of an alternative dumpsite under development at Omueke-Igwuruta in Ikwerre Local Government Area.
He said the existing dumpsite poses serious environmental hazards and gives off offensive odour along the entrance route into the State capital.
“We are already phasing out the Airport Obiri-Ikwerre road dumpsite because of the environmental hazards it poses,” Fubara said. “The odour from the site and its location at the gateway into the State are major reasons for establishing a new, permanent waste management site.”
The governor, who was accompanied by the Chairman of the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA), Dr. Samuel Nwanosike, explained that his administration inherited the alternative dumpsite project and is determined to complete it.
He added that work was ongoing on the access road to the new site, assuring that all necessary processes for government’s ownership of the borrow pit would be finalized soon.
Fubara also appealed for the cooperation of the host community and commended RIWAMA for its continued efforts in environmental sanitation and waste management across the State.
Meanwhile, the governor inspected the ongoing construction of 29 units of four-bedroom duplexes for Permanent Secretaries at Elimgbu, in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, expressing satisfaction with the progress of work. He was conducted round the site by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Mr. Austin Ezekiel Hart.
