Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, has passed into law, a Bill that will ensure that contaminated land and toxic sites are cleaned up and revitalized by potentially responsible parties.
The Bill, according to the State House of Assembly, will ensure that citizens and residents of the state enjoy clean air, water and land, while maintaining its status as the cleanest state in the country.
The bill is seeking to establish Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency and other matters connected therewith, and has been in the House since November 2019.
Presenting the bill, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Environment, Mark Esset, said passage of the Bill will ensure Akwa Ibom State and its citizens enjoy clean air, water, land, while maintaining its status as the cleanest state in Nigeria.
Esset noted that the Bill will engender the application of organised and concerted efforts by the Agency to reduce environmental risks based on best scientific information.
“The passage of the Bill will ensure that contaminated land and toxic sites are cleaned up and revitalized by potentially responsible parties. The bill will also eliminate overlaps and conflict of powers between the Ministry of Environment and the Agency.”
The House after considering the report at the Committee of the whole, passed it into law, with February, 2021, as the commencement date, while the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey, directed the Clerk of the House,, Mrs. Mandu Umoren to communicate the resolution of the House to Governor Udom Emmanuel.