Governor Nyesom Wike has ordered the sack of all refuse collectors saddled with the responsibility of carting away wastes in the State capital.
The order takes immediate effect.
Kelvin Ebiri, SA to the Rivers Governor on Media said in a statement issued Saturday that the action was taken because the contractors recruited to do the job had failed woefully to keep the state capital and its environs clean.
The Governor ordered the Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Councils to take over the task of clearing refuse in their areas until new waste disposal contractors are named.
The statement however made no direct reference to the capacity of the leadership of the Rivers State Waste Management Agency, RIWAMA, in dealing with the refuse challenge.
Observers say the move by the Rivers State Government to appoint new contractors for RIWAMA might translate to a vote of confidence passed on the leadership of the agency.
By law, RIWAMA is charged with the evacuation of refuse generated by residents on a daily basis as well as the management of dump sites.
The statement read in part, “The Rivers State government hereby announces the termination of its contract with all private waste contractors effective from 29 April, 2022.
“The decision to terminate their contract with the Rivers State Management Agency (RIWAMA), stems from their inability to fulfill the contractual obligation to ensure cleaner and healthier environment for Rivers’ citizens.
“In the interim, the Rivers State Government has directed the Chairmen of Port Harcourt City and Obio-Akpor Local Government Areas to immediately take charge of the evacuation of waste in their respective jurisdiction, pending the announcement of new waste contractors by Monday.”
It assured residents of Government’s resolve to comprehensively tackle the waste disposal issue.