Rivers’ stakeholders call for stricter environmental controls, sanitation protocols

Residents and other stakeholders in Rivers State have called for stricter environmental controls and stronger government monitoring of sanitation protocols.

The call followed worsening environmental pollution from oil spills and gas flaring, as well as individual and domestic abuse of the environment, such as open defecation and indiscriminate waste disposal.

The stakeholders met on Friday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, as part of activities marking this year’s World Environment Day to call for stronger environmental laws and stricter sanitation protocols across the state.

Their call was reinforced by worsening sanitation habits across the state, marked by indiscriminate dumping and delayed refuse collection from collection points.

Participants at the event, held under the theme, ‘Inspired by Nature for Climate: For Our Future,’ and supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Global Greengrants Fund, highlighted the urgent need to transition to cleaner energy alternatives.

Smith Nwokocha, coordinator of Quest for Growth and Development Foundation, facilitators of the event, described the meeting as a hands-on call to action rather than a symbolic gesture.

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He said the primary goal was to demonstrate practical, nature-inspired solutions to climate challenges.

“The main aim is to ensure that we have a safer environment. We want to further emphasise renewable energy solutions, which is why we donated solar fans and lamps to some of the participants.

“This way, they can see firsthand the importance of using energy that is environmentally friendly,” Nwokocha said.

He described the distribution of solar-powered devices to community members as seed investment in a fossil-fuel-free future.

While discussions around the transition to renewable energy took center stage, stakeholders lamented heaps of refuse on major roads in the state capital and called on the state government to adopt stricter sanitation protocols.

Nwokocha urged the state government to enforce stricter sanitation protocols in line with global best practices.

He said, “We are calling on the government to ensure proper sanitation monitoring. The environment must be kept clean at all times, and we specifically call on RIWAMA to step up its efforts.”

The appeal comes amid growing concerns over drainage blockages, plastic pollution, and illegal dumping sites that have become breeding grounds for disease in parts of Port Harcourt.

Joseph Nkatha, representative of the Commandant, Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), Rivers State Command, called on citizens to rally around a shared responsibility.

He said, “Everyone has to be involved in maintaining a clean environment. Cleaning should not be left to government alone. A healthy environment is the foundation of a healthy life.”

Nkatha urged residents to adopt daily waste-sorting habits and support community-led sanitation drives, warning that negligence often leads to avoidable health crises.

Era Theophilus, environmental activist, highlighted the implications of an untidy environment, which she described as a ‘silent killer,’ while linking poor waste management to flooding, respiratory illnesses, and the spread of vector-borne diseases.

She urged both the public and private sectors to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy across homes and industries.

Theophilus said, “Renewable energy is not just an option—it is a necessity. It is safe, sustainable, and in harmony with nature.”

As the event drew to a close, participants lit up the dusk with their new solar lamps—a quiet but powerful symbol of what the future could look like.

With UNEP’s backing and grassroots momentum building, Rivers State may be on the cusp of a cleaner, greener chapter.

But, as speakers repeatedly reminded the crowd, the climate of the future will be shaped not by one event but by daily choices.