Rivers: Lawyers Fault Restriction Of Movement During Monthly Sanitation Exercise

Legal practitioners in Rivers State have criticized the decision by the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) to restrict vehicular and human movement during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise. RIWAMA's board chairman, Samuel Nwanosike, announced the reintroduction of the exercise to be held on the last Saturday of every month, with movement restrictions in place.

Lawyer Chizzy Enyi argued that this directive violates citizens' rights, citing previous court rulings that deemed such restrictions unlawful. Another lawyer, Ndamzi Egwulor, echoed these sentiments, calling the restriction unconstitutional and illegal.

He referenced a Federal High Court ruling by Justice Omotosho that deemed the restriction in the guise of environmental sanitation exercise as illegal and unconstitutional. The lawyers questioned RIWAMA's legal authority to issue such restrictions, especially for essential workers.