Ideato North lawmaker's Bill on Establishment of Erosion, Watershed Agency Passes 2nd reading

 

Report By Chinyere Nnaemeka

A Bill for a Law to Establish the Imo State Erosion, Watershed and Climate Agency (MEWCCA) and for other related matters, has scaled through second reading.

The Bill which was presented before the House on Tuesday, by the Ideato North lawmaker, Hon. Okechukwu Udeze, cosponsored by four other lawmakers has been committed to the House Committee on Environment to make their input, and report back to the house on March 26, 2024.

Speaking on the bill, the legislator stated that the bill is meant to address issues of erosion menace in Imo State, especially in Ideato Nation where he said the challenge is more predominant due to the porous nature of their soil just like other Local Government Area may be experiencing.

He continued, "Even though erosion is a natural disaster on its own, but due to construction of roads without proper drainages, and the deforestation of the bushes it becomes worst. This is why when it occurs it has serious side effect on Agriculture and the mobility of the people from one point to another.

"Since the inception of the 10th House of Assembly, we have had several motions on erosion menace ravaging our LGAs, and I thought it wise that for us to holistically address the issue a Bill should be presented to that effect.

"This erosion challenge always begins gradually, but if not handled in time expands to cost the State and Federal Government more fund to fix it, 'Udeze stated'.

He cited a place at his LGA, at Egbebere which he said as a child, he noticed that the erosion menace began gradually and later deepened to 100feet. 

The lawmaker averred that NEW MAP then went and did some controls on it so it will stop expanding, but now all the controls he said has been destroyed as the menace is getting deeper and deeper.

Udeze further stated that the Bill will aid the agency in collaboration with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to carry out researches and formulate policies on how to tackle the menace and further prevent it's occurrence. 

The Agency he said will also ensure that if a road is being constructed that good drainages and areas through which water can move into lakes or reservoirs are put in place to ensure proper channelling of water.

He further pointed out, "funding of the Bill will not be an issue as there are Ecological Funds at the Federal level mapped out to take care of such issue. We have the NEW MAP funded by Worldbank, and we also have the State Intervention Funds too. 

"So with their collaboration we will be able to eliminate the trend of erosion menace in the state, Udeze averred'.

The Bill has six parts, 28 Sections and Clauses.