The Rivers State Government has issued a stern ultimatum to waste management contractors across the state, threatening immediate termination of their contracts over what it described as a worsening failure to tackle the growing garbage crisis in the region.
The rebuke came Wednesday through a statement from Hector Igbikiowubo, Senior Special Adviser on Media to the State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd).
The statement, released in Port Harcourt, paints a grim picture of deteriorating sanitation and warns of swift consequences for any contractor found wanting.
“The administration will not stand by while our communities are buried under heaps of refuse,” the statement reads. “Public health is non-negotiable, and contractors who cannot live up to their responsibilities will be removed without hesitation.”
Amid mounting complaints of waste accumulation in major urban centres like Port Harcourt, the government has intensified its scrutiny of contracted service providers.
Igbikiowubo announced that any waste left uncollected for more than 48 hours should be reported by residents directly to the authorities to ensure rapid response and accountability.
In a bid to restore order to the state’s waste management system, the government has also reactivated a long-abandoned burrow pit and initiated upgrades to another site near the Airport Access Road.
READ ALSO: A New Dawn for Rivers State
These moves, officials say, are intended to expand the state’s waste disposal capacity and improve operational efficiency.
“This government is not interested in excuses,” Igbikiowubo stated. “What we demand is performance. Contracts will be revoked with extreme prejudice where necessary.”
The statement underscores a zero-tolerance approach to inefficiency, particularly in critical public services.
Officials emphasized that cleanliness and environmental health are collective responsibilities, calling on residents to dispose of waste at approved dump sites and follow sustainable practices.
“As we push forward with reforms in waste management, we also expect cooperation from the public. This is a shared duty – for the benefit of both today’s residents and generations to come,” Igbikiowubo added.
With these new directives, the government hopes to not only rein in non-performing contractors but also cultivate a more responsive, cleaner, and healthier urban environment.