The Ekiti State House of Assembly has organised a public hearing on a bill to repeal the Ekiti State Environmental protection Agency Law 2009, and re-enactment of the Ekiti State Environmental Protection and Watershed Management Agency Law 2023 and Other Matters therewith..
The chairman, House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, a lawmaker representing Ilejemeje Constituency in the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Princess Iyabo Fakunle Okiemen, in her opening remark at the venue of the event in the Assembly Complex in Ado Ekiti, said the bill would enable the house and the Committee to review the existing environmental Laws and to incorporate new ideas into environmental management.
Hon Okiemen stated that “the exercise was borne out of the passion and readiness of the Seventh Assembly to tackle environmental challenges that may emanated from Climate change, Ozone layer problem, Air and Water pollutions, and other underlying factors that can cause untold hardship to peaceful and good living condition of the residents.
She reaffirmed the commitment of the administration of the Executive Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Biodun Oyebanji to hygienic and conducive environment for all and sundry in the State, she highlighted some of the reasons why they must mortified the existing law and reenact the new law which will address the current environmental challenges”
Hon Okiemen alongside other members of the Committee took their time to scrutinize and interpreted the content of the proposed law to the stakeholder, aimed at replacing the old Environmental Protection Agency Law of 2009 which was premised on 1988 law (Amended as Decree 59 of1992) with main objective of regulating of water soil and air pollution issues.
Similarly, Hon.Tunde Idowu, Anthony Adaramodu, Kareem Agunbiade, Yomi Ayorinde expressed their views on the bill and harped on grey areas that will make the new law to be more effective and efficient than the old law with the application of fines, appropriation of sanctions and penalties for infractions in the areas of Oil spillage, Erosion problem, Flooding, Deforestation, Air and Water pollutions and Watershed management.
In their presentation, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr Babatunde Alokan, Representative of Nigeria Erosion and watershed Management Projects(NEWMAP) Dr Akinyemi Akinyugha (Technical Adviser on Green Economy and Ecological matters) Civil Society, Non governmental organization, Butchers & Dealers Association among others, eulogised the Governor and the Ekiti State House of Assembly, for being insightful and proactive towards curbing environmental issues, adding that the proposed amendment law will contribute to the actualisation of the goals and objectives of the NEWMAP in the state.
However, the event gave the Butchers and Tippers Association leaders the opportunity to contribute brilliantly to the bill and as well used the occasion to intimate the Committee on the challenges confronting their Associations and solicited for government intervention particularly, on issues of multiple taxation and levies which needed to be streamlined and promised to abide with the ideas and innovations that would be incorporated into the new law and urged the committee to give room for feedback from the public.