Buoyed by its one year anniversary success story of giving Port Harcourt and its environs a facelift, the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) has launched a mobile application aimed at interfacing with the citizenry to make their job more efficient.

Unveiling the software device while receiving the Rivers State House of Assembly Committee on Environment at its corporate headquarters in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, Bro. Obuah said the Agency decided to leverage on the use of technology for efficient and strategic planning.

The RIWAMA boss added that the mobile app, known as ‘RIWAMA Mobile’, was designed by an indigenous IT/Geospatial consultant known as E-Sense Technology Ltd, with the aim of strategically involving the citizenry in the waste management effort.

“Before now, there was a huge gap between RIWAMA and the public. This app will successfully bridge that gap. Rather than rely completely on RIWAMA staff for monitoring, members of the public can be co-opted into this monitoring and reporting process using this app, and once a citizen reports an issue of where heaps of wastes are found, it instantly prompts the designated staff of RIWAMA to initiate action,” he said.

He expressed confidence that the mobile app would boost the efficiency of the planning and operational processes as well as bridge the gap with the citizens.

He revealed that citizens can perform critical functions such as search for nearest receptacles to your current location with the result displayed on an interactive map; search for nearest receptacles to a specified address; view pictures of nearest receptacles; report defaulting contractors and report illegal dump sites and receptacles.

He further added that citizens can also report unsafe practices or any other related issues; receive instant messages and read related news items.

Bro. Obuah told the House Committee that the application is what he called, ‘location intelligence,’ stating that it is designed using modern programming tools in line with industry standards and global best practices.

The RIWAMA Sole Administrator further disclosed that the web portal can be accessed via the address www.riwama.com.ng, while the mobile app can be downloaded from the Android Play Store by typing “RIWAMA Mobile” in the search field, adding that mobile app would be available on other mobile app stores in the coming weeks.

According to the RIWAMA boss, one key advantage of this application is that it can report your location accurately, and it can be viewed on the map. “What it means is that you can report directly from the field, and it will accurately resolve and inherit your current location in the report.”

His words: “Using the Geospatial Portal, RIWAMA staff can now plan better, and manage resources and personnel more efficiently. They can view spatially, all points of interest such as receptacles and dump sites interactively on the map as well as perform complex analysis such as tonnage analysis by zone proximity analysis”.

Responding, leader of the delegation and Chairman of the Rivers State House of Assembly Committee on Environment, Hon. Christian Ahiakwo thanked Bro. Felix Obuah for not only rebranding the Agency but also consciously restoring the Garden-City status of Port Harcourt.

He described the use of the mobile app as a turning point in the waste management efforts of the Agency and urged the Sole Administrator to keep up the tempo.

•Photo shows Bro. Obuah.

Update news