The Sole Administrator of the Rivers State Waste Management
Agency (RIWAMA), Bro. Felix Obuah has expressed displeasure with some hoteliers
in the State who are in the habit of flouting the agency’s directive by not
keeping their premises and business environment clean and healthy, thereby
making Port Harcourt and its environs unclean.
Bro. Obuah, who stated this while receiving members of the
State branch of the Nigeria Hotel Association (NHA), led by its Chairman,
Eugene Nwauzi, in his office in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, said the Agency was
becoming worried by the ugly habit of some hoteliers, who contemptuously
sabotage the efforts of the Agency and the State government in making Port
Harcourt, the State capital regain its garden city status.
The Sole Administrator, who was represented by his Personal
Assistant, Prince Ike Anslem Chukwu, also frowned at hoteliers who promote the
services of unregistered companies to dispose of their waste, adding that these
unregistered companies cart away the refuse and dump them indiscriminately.
He advised all hoteliers in the State to ensure that they
engage only service providers registered with the Agency, pointing out that
only RIWAMA approved contractors have the license to perform such services.
The Sole Administrator further stated that RIWAMA is not
collecting any levy or taxes of any kind, under any guise, stressing that all
revenue are collected by the Rivers State Board of Internal Revenue.
Consequently, the RIWAMA boss also called on hoteliers in
the State to report anyone or group of persons who approach them to collect
levies or taxes to the law enforcement agency or the RIWAMA office along
Ikwerre Road, Mile 4 in Port Harcourt.
While also commending some hoteliers who keep their premises
and surroundings clean, Bro. Obuah urged all in the hospitality industry in the
State to support Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike in his efforts to ensure that
Rivers people receive the dividends of democracy, particularly in a clean and
healthy environment.
In his speech, the Chairman of the Rivers State branch of
the Nigeria Hotel Association, Eugene Nwauzi, said they were on the visit to
thank Governor Wike for appointing Bro. Felix Obuah, who is also in the
hospitality industry, as Sole Administration of RIWAMA, adding that they were
also pleased with harmonization of taxes in the State.
Nwauzi commended the Governor for creating a conducive
environment for hotel business and other businesses to thrive in the State,
adding that this had contributed in the attraction of local, national and
international events to Port Harcourt, thereby promoting hotel businesses.
The Chairman called on government to wade into the high
electricity tariff imposed on hoteliers in the State by Port Harcourt
Electricity Distribution Company (PHED), urging the State Government to adopt
the Independent Power Project (IPP) option in the provision of
electricity.
Nwauzi explained that Rivers State has the capacity to use
IPP to generate power at affordable prices to the people living and doing
business in the State.
The Chairman also urged government to reopen and put the
Port Harcourt International Airport Hotel into use, since it is a gateway from
the airport into the State.
Signed:
Jerry Needam
Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to
Bro. Felix Obuah, Sole Administrator,
Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA).
Thursday, May 18, 2017.
