Rivers commences de-silting of flood-prone areas

The Rivers Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) has commenced de-silting of major creeks and canals in Obio Akpor Local Government Area and other parts of Port Harcourt.

It said the exercise is aimed at checking flood.

Sole Administrator of the agency, Felix Obuah,while

State inspecting ongoing works at Ntanwogba Creek, Mini Nwondugba, Mini Aziri, Mini Ngwolu and Mini Ekere canals yesterday said the initiative was part of Governor Nyesom Wike’s efforts to keep the state safe from flood.

He lamented that free flow of water in the canals and creeks have been hampered due to indiscriminate dumping of refuse.

“This attitude causes blockade of drains, thereby preventing free flow of water. It is as a result of this that the governor ordered that all creeks and canals in the state must be cleaned,” he said.

He said that his agency would demolish all buildings and structures on waterways and that anyone caught throwing refuse into the drains would be arrested and prosecuted.

Obuah, who is also the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, said four swamp buggy vehicles were deployed and now working in the creeks and canals, adding that the project has reached advanced stage and could be completed in a month’s time.

He said the use of the swam buggy became necessary in order to dig up garbage buried beneath the canals and creeks.

He maintained that the Wike administration would not compromise standards in executing projects.

He added that the second phase of the project would be the clearing of excavated silts to provide walkways at both sides of the creek.