AKHA moves to stop indiscriminate grazing, excavations AKHA moves to stop indiscriminate grazing, excavations The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has resolved to check the menace of cattle grazing in the state with a view to bringing to an end the sufferings of farmers and road users, and preventing a possible violent clash between nomadic herders and farmers in the state. The lawmakers are also moving to prevent further indiscriminate land excavations and sand mining which they say is gradually causing serious environmental and health havoc in Akwa Ibom. The assembly’s resolutions followed a knowledge-laden motion moved by Hon. (Barr.) Onofiok Luke seeking the state legislature’s quick intervention in the situation which the Nsit Ubium representative sees as a matter of urgent public importance. Hon. Luke drew his colleagues’ attention to the plights of farmers especially peasants, whose crops and soils are being repeatedly ravaged by grazing cattle. He stated that apart from constituting nightmares to farmers, these cattle which are often herded by Northern Nigerians also constitute “grievous danger” to pedestrians, public utilities, and motorists as the animals are usually driven along major roads. “The penchant of nomadic herdsmen to graze their cattle in farmlands of people led to communal clashes in Northern Nigeria and in recent years this crisis has spilled into the southern part of the nation,” Hon. Onofiok said, citing media reports of gory clashes between farmers and nomadic herdsmen in some states of the federation. In order to forestall any possible clash, the lawmaker prayed the House to resolve that the state government makes immediate moves to designate special grazing areas for cattle in the state as well as “stop the movement of cattle in the city centres, thoroughfares, and farmlands.” Hon. Luke took the motion to the House pursuant to Order 2 Rule 4 of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Standing Order on Tuesday. His prayers were granted as the House passed three resolutions, key of which directed the executive arm of the state to designate grazing areas for cattle in the state. Barrister Luke again on Thursday followed with a more sterling presentation of another matter of urgent public importance: the indiscriminate land excavations and sand mining in the state mostly by foreign construction companies operating in the state. With pictorial proofs, Hon. Luke showed the pathetic level of excavations in the state and expatiated on its environmental and health impact on the people of the state. He moved that the House passed resolutions which would check these excavations. Supporting the motion, Barrister Ekong Samson who represents Mkpat Enin State Constituency in the House described the motion as timely and commended Hon. Luke for his erudite and informed motion saying that he has set the stage for the event of the birthday anniversary of the state. According to the Right Honourable, the indiscriminate excavations of lands in the state demonstrates the greed of companies and private individuals who engage in construction, and the level of unawareness of community people who corporate with the companies. He said affected communities should be encouraged and enlightened on how to seek legal options. A number of other members of the House spoke in support of the motion. The House which was presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Udo Kieran Akpan upheld all prayers in the motions and agreed to pass its resolutions to the executive arm in line with the motions raised. blog4all-com.blogspot/2013/09/akha-moves-to-stop-indiscriminate.html
Posted on: Fri, 20 Sep 2013 16:50:08 +0000
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