Assembly Passes Illegal Trading Prohibition Bill

The week under review witnessed the final passage of the Rivers State Illegal Markets, Trading and Motor Parks Prohibition bill 2019.
The bill was given a third reading and referred to the Clerk to be conveyed to the governor for assent.
The bill was passed after intense debate by lawmakers who were divided over most parts of the bill, especially as regards the supervisory ministry. While many of the lawmakers supported the provision that the Ministry of Transport oversees the implementation of the bill, others insisted that it should be the responsibility of the Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon Ikuinyi –Owaji Ibani while ruling on the matter submitted that there should be an inter-agency monitoring and implementation of the law when passed and also underscored  the need to give delegated powers to the Attorney- General and Commissioner for Justice to regulate it since laws are flexible.
Ibani also noted that the issue of nomenclature as regards the issue of “taskforce” which ordinarily gives a military connotation to the committee that will oversee the implementation of the law should be disregarded since the task of the committee in this democratic dispensation could be curtailed and moderated as the need arises.
Earlier, the House received a petition from the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Edison Ehie over the neglect and environmental degradation caused by the operators of OML 54, the Niger Delta Petroleum Resources Limited.
According to the deputy speaker, the action of Niger Delta Petroleum Resources Ltd smacks of  deliberate action to sideline the host communities, comprising Ekpeye and Abua communities, stressing that over the years, the oil firm had evaded tax, failed to enter into Memorandum of Understanding(MOU), including failing to carry out an environmental impact assessment on its operations.
The Speaker after hearing the petition announced a five. Member Adhoc Committee chaired by Deputy Whip, Major Jack to investigate the petition and report back to the House.
The committee last weekend carried out an oversight at Okpele field where the Niger Delta Petroleum Resources limited operates.
Speaking with newsmen , Hon.Jack promised to be fair to all parties assuring that its report will take into cognizance the issues laid down in the petition.
He added, “we will not hesitate to bring anybody to book because this matter is capable of compromising the security policies of the state government.”
The lawmaker from Akuku-Toru enjoined the host communities to be calm as the Assembly will ensure that justice is done in the matter.