The Rivers State House of Assembly, yesterday, passed into law, the state land use prohibition extortion bill 2010 with the lawmakers unanimously abolishing bush entry and marching ground levies charged by land owners in the state.

Other levies abolished are the youth development levies, burial levies, community Development Committee levies, consultation levies as well as fencing levies.

The passage of the bill followed a unanimous adoption of the  House committee report on land, Housing and Urban Development.

The chairman, House Committee on Land, Housing and Urban Development, Hon Lucky Odili told the lawmakers that the various stakeholders who participated in the public hearing lauded the good intention of the bill.

Hon Odili hinted that the participants had urged the legislators not to abolish the bush entry as it is part of the custom of the people.

The lawmaker also revealed that the participants were worried that the proposed abolishment of the marching ground by the drafters of the bill would amount to total destruction of their tradition.

However, during the debate on the committee’s report, some lawmakers okayed the abolishment of marching ground and bush entry levies in the state.

Contributing, Hon Henry Ogiri (Abua/Odua), Golden Ngozi Chioma (ELGAII), Ibani Ikunyili Owaji (Andoni), Tamunosisi Gogo Jaja ( Opobo/Nkoro) and Hon Isaac Kamalu (Eleme) observed that the bill intends to correct “mischievous acts” going on in the state.

The lawmakers stated that the bill would address the issue of multiple taxation charged in the course of developing land, as well as doing business in the state.

The state legislators noted that the multiple taxations charged on land development by land owners and communities have hindered development in the state, adding that with the passage of the bill into law the state is now safe for investors to do business.

The lawmakers disagreed with the sentiments expressed by some of their colleagues that the bill would exterminate the various culture and tradition of the people of the state, saying that the bill would enhance development in the state.

In his own contribution, Hon Ogbonda Jones urged the House not to abolish bush entry in the state.

Hon Ogbonda averred that bush entry has been an age-long tradition and customary practice among the people of the state in the course of land business transactions, adding that such practice varies from one community to another.

The Speaker of the House, Rt Hon Tonye Harry who presided over the sitting put the House into vote, where 19 lawmakers voted for the abolishment of marching ground, bush entry and other levies charged in course of development of land in the state, while one lawmaker voted against.

The Speaker while ruling on the matter, said that with the majority votes in favour of the abolishment, the bill is to be passed into law.

Hon Harry warned that anybody who pays money as marching ground while buying  or developing land in the state would be punished as violator of the law, just as anybody who demand for such levies from a prospective land buyers or land developers.