Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) and the Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, have launched a collaboration to address the growing refuse crisis in Port Harcourt, the capital of Nigeria's South-South region. The initiative aims to construct new waste collection centers and combat illegal dumping, which has plagued the city's beaches, parks, and roadways. The partnership emerged after residents reported a surge in refuse accumulation across Garden City, with road medians and public spaces increasingly overtaken by uncollected waste. At a September 23, 2026, meeting in Port Harcourt, RIWAMA Managing Director Ibimina Wokoma and China agreed to expand the city's waste management infrastructure. The collaboration includes the construction of standardized refuse collection points to replace the current insufficient receptacles, which have failed to keep pace with the region's rapid urbanization. Wokoma emphasized that road median dumping is a punishable offense, citing RIWAMA's enforcement efforts. However, he acknowledged that informal waste workers and residents have continued to ignore regulations.
The planned construction of new standard centers is expected to address this,
he stated, noting that the city's expanding population and infrastructure projects have intensified waste generation. China, a prominent African entrepreneur and proponent of sustainable urban development, highlighted his vision to transform Port Harcourt into a global tourism destination.
The rate at which people dump refuse on the middle of the road is alarming,
We can create proper places where refuse can be dumped and evacuated as and when due, so that businesses can thrive and we can sustain a healthy environment,
he added. China's Alesa Highlands Sustainable Green Smart City project, set to model a
for Garden City, will prioritize waste segregation and recycling, he said. RIWAMA has already deployed several waste bins across the city, with additional receptacles developed through partnerships like the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education. Wokoma praised such collaborations, stating,
Waste management is everybody’s business, and its effect touches all persons,
as the state's expansion brings more people and more waste. The first phase of the new collection centers is slated to begin in the coming days, with Green and Blue-colored RIWAMA bins to be installed at strategic locations. Residents are urged to avoid illegal dumping and utilize the designated points. Attendees at the meeting included RIWAMA Director of Administration and Human Resources Cosmos Okoro, Media and Advocacy Head Harry S. Henry, and Godwin Njoku, who accompanied the Mayor of Housing. The initiative reflects broader public-interest goals, including improving sanitation, supporting tourism, and fostering environmental sustainability. By addressing the refuse crisis, the collaboration seeks to restore Port Harcourt's
reputation while aligning with global standards for urban waste management.
Rivers State Waste Agency Collaborates with Mayor of Housing to Tackle Refuse Crisis in Port Harcourt
Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) and the Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, have launched a collaboration to address the growing refuse crisis in Port Harcourt, the capital of Nigeria's South-South region. The initiative aims to construct new waste collection centers and combat illegal dumping, which has plagued the city's beaches, parks, and roadways. The partnership emerged after residents reported a surge in refuse accumulation across Garden City, with road medians and public spaces increasingly overtaken by uncollected waste. At a September 23, 2026, meeting in Port Harcourt, RIWAMA Managing Director Ibimina Wokoma and China agreed to expand the city's waste management infrastructure. The collaboration includes the construction of standardized refuse collection points to replace the current insufficient receptacles, which have failed to keep pace with the region's rapid urbanization. Wokoma emphasized that road median dumping is a punishable offense, citing RIWAMA's enforcement efforts. However, he acknowledged that informal waste workers and residents have continued to ignore regulations.
The planned construction of new standard centers is expected to address this,
he stated, noting that the city's expanding population and infrastructure projects have intensified waste generation. China, a prominent African entrepreneur and proponent of sustainable urban development, highlighted his vision to transform Port Harcourt into a global tourism destination.
The rate at which people dump refuse on the middle of the road is alarming,
We can create proper places where refuse can be dumped and evacuated as and when due, so that businesses can thrive and we can sustain a healthy environment,
he added. China's Alesa Highlands Sustainable Green Smart City project, set to model a
for Garden City, will prioritize waste segregation and recycling, he said. RIWAMA has already deployed several waste bins across the city, with additional receptacles developed through partnerships like the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education. Wokoma praised such collaborations, stating,
Waste management is everybody’s business, and its effect touches all persons,
as the state's expansion brings more people and more waste. The first phase of the new collection centers is slated to begin in the coming days, with Green and Blue-colored RIWAMA bins to be installed at strategic locations. Residents are urged to avoid illegal dumping and utilize the designated points. Attendees at the meeting included RIWAMA Director of Administration and Human Resources Cosmos Okoro, Media and Advocacy Head Harry S. Henry, and Godwin Njoku, who accompanied the Mayor of Housing. The initiative reflects broader public-interest goals, including improving sanitation, supporting tourism, and fostering environmental sustainability. By addressing the refuse crisis, the collaboration seeks to restore Port Harcourt's
reputation while aligning with global standards for urban waste management.