The growing menace of poor waste disposal in Rivers State has raised concerns among experts and residents, who are now calling for urgent intervention. Professor Sydney Obidinma Nzako, a lecturer in Animal and Environmental Biology, has urged the government to embark on a statewide campaign on waste bagging, disposal, and proper environmental practices.
Speaking in an interview with our reporter, Prof. Nzako lamented the activities of scavengers, which he said are undermining the status of Port Harcourt as the “Garden City.” He stressed that reorientation of waste pickers and the public is necessary to drive a sustainable waste-to-wealth initiative.
“Somebody bags his refuse, then you scatter it, pick the valuables, and walk away without re-bagging it. You leave it there for the wind to spread around. These scavengers should be arrested and taken to a place where they will be reoriented on how to do things. Even if you must pick from the waste in the name of waste-to-wealth, you cannot practice it at the expense of public health,” he said.
Prof. Nzako further warned about the health risks associated with indiscriminate dumping and unpacked refuse across Port Harcourt metropolis. He expressed concern that citizens appear more interested in making social media videos than in demanding cleaner surroundings.
“The patriotic aspect is missing. People at the roadside just snap and post online instead of raising alarm. When we should be talking about health, the environment is filthy. And by default, everybody is affected because parasites and diseases spread by contact. A man with low health quality cannot claim to be healthy,” he added.
Meanwhile, residents across Port Harcourt and its environs have expressed disappointment over the performance of the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA). They say littered waste, foul odour, and the growing number of flies are making life unbearable.
“The level of pollution in Rivers State is becoming alarming. Health, they say, is wealth. But how can we live well in this kind of environment? Rivers State used to be the Garden City, a place of serenity. Now waste is everywhere. It should be a wake-up call for government intervention,” a resident said.
Another resident at Oyibo added: “RIWAMA is nothing to write home about. When it rains, it becomes worse. Here in Oyibo, refuse is ignored. It stays for days and weeks, breeding flies, causing bad odour, polluting and defacing the environment.”
Both experts and residents are therefore appealing to the government and relevant agencies to act swiftly before the city’s waste crisis escalates into a major public health disaster.
