By Samuel Oyadongha, Yenagoa

YENAGOA — The poor condition of drainage channels around the busy Ekeki Motor Park in Yenagoa has drawn concern from the Technical Adviser to the Bayelsa State Governor on Environment 1, Alagoa Morris, who described the situation as an eyesore requiring urgent attention.

Morris made the remark during an on-site assessment visit involving park managers, civil society groups, and media representatives on Thursday, stressing that proper sanitation around the park is both an aesthetic and public health necessity.

He noted that the motor park serves as a major entry and exit point into the state capital and should therefore reflect acceptable environmental standards.

“If you go around outside now, you will see how the drain is. This environment is the first thing travellers see when they are going out or coming into the state,” he said.

Morris compared the area with cleaner parts of the capital, saying some sections appeared better maintained, particularly around the flyover corridor, and urged collective action to address the disparity.

He explained that his intervention was intended to complement the governor’s development efforts, noting that governance requires shared responsibility among officials at different levels.

“The governor is following up on big projects, but those of us who are his aides must also highlight what we see on the ground,” he said, warning against what he described as a “one-man show” approach to governance.

Morris added that he would report the outcome of the visit to the governor and assured that his office would support efforts to improve the park’s environment, while urging stakeholders to take ownership of sanitation responsibilities.

Responding, Secretary of the Ekeki Park Management Committee, Ipamuowei Profit Sadimuka, lamented the high cost of waste evacuation, saying financial constraints were hampering proper sanitation.

He disclosed that clearing accumulated waste could cost between N500,000 and N700,000, funds the committee currently does not have.

Sadimuka said the management had resorted to self-help measures, including levies from traders, to manage waste and improve parts of the park environment.

He appealed for government support to ensure regular waste evacuation and improved drainage maintenance.

Also speaking, Chief Joseph Abia, a member of the park management committee, called for sustained cleanliness practices rather than occasional sanitation efforts.

“We are talking of day-to-day cleanliness, not periodic cleanliness,” he said, adding that consistent maintenance was necessary for a healthier environment.

The Programme Manager of Environmental Conservation, Agricultural and Rural Development (ECARD), James Yibafoeo-iyela, warned that blocked drainages and indiscriminate waste disposal could worsen flooding risks and public health challenges.

He pledged collaboration with stakeholders to improve sanitation and ensure free flow of drainage systems around the park.