The Anambra State House of Assembly has passed a resolution urging
Governor Willie Obiano to issue an executive order prohibiting the
unauthorized excavation of laterite, stones and local sharp sand at
the defunct Oba Airport Site and also prosecute the defaulters
henceforth.
The House passed the resolution following a motion sponsored to that
effect by the Chief Whip and member representing Dunukofia
Constituency, Honourable Lawrence Ezeudu and twenty eight others
during yesterdays plenary in Awka.
House of Assembly Correspondent, Chukwuemeka Modilim was there and reports that while explaining the motion, Honourable Ezeudu reveald that unlawful
excavation of laterite, stones, local sharp sand by unauthorized
private developers at the defunct Oba Airport site has resulted in
gully erosion threatening several adjoining houses, factories and
undeveloped lands within the said area.
He regretted that several efforts made by the Ministry of Environment
and other relevant authorities to checkmate the unlawful excavation
within the area did not stop the barbaric act.
He therefore urged Governor Obiano to use his inherent executive
powers enshrined in sections five two A and twenty of the 1999
constitution as amended to arrest the ugly trend.
On his part, the member representing Anambra East Constituency,
Honourable Obinna Emeneka condemned unlawful excavation of laterite at
the defunct Oba Airport by some individuals in its entirety, adding
that it frustrates the efforts of Governor Willie Obiano and the
Federal Government in safeguarding Anambra State from erosion menace.
The member representing Idemmili South Constituency, Honourable Chuka
Ezenwune who noted that the excavators are systematically building a
future disaster by their unwholesome act, urged Governor Obiano to
salvage the situation.
Other members of the House also took turns to speak in favour of the motion.
Speaker of the House, Right Honourable Uche Okafor who described the
ugly development as quite pathetic called on the perpetrators of the
dastardly act to retrace their steps and read out the resolution of
the House, while the lawmakers supported it through a voice vote.
Later, the Speaker set up a ten man House of Assembly Taskforce
Committee with Honourable Lawrence Ezeudu as the Chairman to work with
the Executive Arm of Government to stop indiscriminate sand excavation
across the state
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