Rivers Agency Vows to Investigate Tyre Burners, Prosecute Culprits for Air Pollution

As concerns continue to mount on the rain of soot in Port Harcourt and its environs, the Sole Administrator of Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA), Felix Obuah, has vowed to bring to book those behind burning of tyres in the state.

Obuah said this in a statement yesterday evening while reacting to the “illegal burning” of tyres along Nzemanze Street, opposite Rivers State Health Management Board, Mile 1, Diobu, Port Harcourt.

The fire which threatened buildings and lives of residents and those doing businesses in the area started at about 4p.m. yesterday and lasted for several hours before a combined team of fire-fighters from the state Fire Service, oil companies and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) were able to bring it under control.

Obuah vowed to investigate the cause of the illegal burning of tyres along Nzemanze Street and other parts of the State, and bring culprits to book.

The Sole Administrator urged Rivers people and those doing businesses in the state to join hands with Governor Nyesom Wike to end the menace of sooth by stopping illegal and indiscriminate burning of tyres in Port Harcourt, the state capital, and other parts of the state.

There has been mounting concern over the rain of soot in the state forcing the state government to shut down three companies and threatening to close any company that emits black smoke into the atmosphere.

Residents have been noticing black powdery substances in the environment, especially on roof tops, cars, nostrils and soles of their feet following the rain of soot across the state.

While some have attributed the incident to illegal refining of crude in the creeks others have said it was a result of emissions by companies in disregard to the state and federal environmental laws and regulation.