Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) has directed all service providers with the agency to step up their operations and ensure that their various areas of coverage are kept clean and healthy during and after the holidays and festive season.

RIWAMA Sole Administrator, Felix Obuah, gave the directive during an unscheduled inspection visit to parts of Port Harcourt city, as well as some recreational and event centres in the state capital.

He noted that the clean environment and peaceful atmosphere in the state have made more families, groups, corporate organisations and other fun seekers to engage in some activities that generate volumes of wastes in the state.

Obuah, however, assured residents that RIWAMA would not renege in keeping with its promise and mandate of providing a conducive environment for people to have a clean and healthy living.

He, therefore, urged all service providers to redouble their efforts during the yuletide by evacuating all wastes that would be generated during the period and afterwards.

He added that the agency would not condone any excuse from the respective contractors for failure to comply with the directive.

In a bid to achieve strict compliance, the RIWAMA boss said monitors have been deployed to all operational zones in Port Harcourt and its environs, while all Local Government Caretaker Committee chairmen are expected to ensure that their areas are also kept clean during and after the festive season.

He also appealed to residents to continue in the habit of keeping their environment clean and healthy and to desist from indiscriminate throwing of wastes on the roads and streets or into the gutters.

“Let’s celebrate the season and New Year in a clean, safe and healthy manner”, Obuah said in a statement issued by his media aide, Jerry Needam.