Rivers Warns Against Street Trading, Footballing During Sanitation Hours

The Sole Administrator of the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA), Bro. Felix Obuah has again warned those who indulge in the habit of converting the monthly sanitation hours to street trading and footballing, to desist from the act or face the wrath of the law.

Bro. Obuah, who gave the warning on Saturday, when a team of RIWAMA officials went round some parts of Port Harcourt, the State capital, to monitor this month’s sanitation exercise, said the Agency had repeatedly warned against playing football and street trading during the monthly sanitation hours, but regretted that such warnings had fallen on deaf ears.

The Sole Administrator who was represented by the Agency’s Director of Administration, Mr. Ian Abraham Gobo said the habit was counterproductive as the affected areas remained dirty and unkempt during and after the sanitation exercise.

He said observations revealed that street trading and footballing take place at areas of high commercial activities in Port Harcourt during sanitation hours and warned parents and guardians to call their children to order.

“This is not encouraging because in the process of playing football and trading on streets and roads during sanitation hours, such areas are littered with wastes”, Bro. Obuah declared while calling for a change of attitude, adding that two, three hours of sanitation exercise would bring a long term health benefit to residents.

“It is not the best time to play football or any other game for that matter or selling on the streets. If you want to play games or sell, don’t do it during the environmental sanitation hours” he advised.

Bro. Obuah warned that henceforth those found to be engaging in such acts would be arrested and charged before the Sanitation Court.

The Sole Administrator who later spoke to journalists on the evaluation of the sanitation exercise said in spite of the ugly habit of indulging in street trading and footballing by some residents, the exercise was adjudged a success as many residents turned out in their numbers in different parts of the State.

“The overall compliance was good. We passed through Ikwerre Road, Ikokwu, Ojoto, Azikiwe, Emenike, Iloabuchi, Rumuomasi, Aba Road and many other streets and roads in Port Harcourt, the State capital”, he said.

The Sole Administrator also explained that the monthly sanitation exercise was not held in the last two months as a result of State and National Examinations which dates coincided with the monthly sanitation days.

On the dumping of refuse on the median by residents, the Sole Administrator said the practice has reduced following the sensitization by the Agency and warned against dumping of refuse on the median.

The Sole Administrator further appealed to residents not to dump refuse in the water channels as doing so may cause blockages which may aggravate flooding