By Amieyeofori Ibim, Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has announced plans to relocate the popular Obiri-Ikwerre dumpsite along the Airport Road due to its severe environmental impact.
Governor Fubara made this known on Tuesday, during an inspection visit to Omueke-Igwuruta in Ikwerre Local Government Area — the proposed site for a new, permanent waste disposal facility. He explained that the existing dumpsite at Obiri-Ikwerre poses serious environmental and health hazards, particularly given its proximity to the state’s main gateway.
“We are already phasing out the Airport Obiri-Ikwerre Road dumpsite because of the environmental hazards it poses,” the Governor stated. “The unpleasant odour and its location at the entrance to our State make it imperative to establish an alternative site for effective waste management.”
Governor Fubara, who was accompanied by the Chairman of the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA), Dr. Samuel Nwanosike, revealed that his administration inherited the alternative dumpsite project and is committed to its completion.
“We have not concluded on the issue of the borrow pit yet, but government is already addressing the access road,” he said. “We will do our best to ensure that all necessary processes for government to take ownership of this site are completed.”
He appealed to the host community for their cooperation and commended RIWAMA’s management for its ongoing efforts to improve environmental sanitation across the State.
Meanwhile, the Governor also inspected the ongoing construction of 29 units of four-bedroom duplexes for Permanent Secretaries at Elimgbu, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area. Accompanied by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works, Mr. Austin Ezekiel Hart, Governor Fubara expressed satisfaction with the progress of work and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to providing quality infrastructure for public officers.
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