PROCEEDINGS OF THE NIGERIAN SENATE OF Tuesday, 18th July, 2023

Welcome to a new Legislative Day in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

Senate President Godswill Akpabio led the Principal Officers into the Chamber, took the official prayers and began the day’s proceedings at 11:27am.

VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS

Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 13th July, 2023 was approved.

MOTION

1. Urgent need to Control the Erosion Ravaging Onitsha-Oba Section of the Onitsha-Owerri Federal Highway in Anambra State by Senator Victor Umeh

Senate resolved to:

i. Urge the Federal Government to direct the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to commence repairs and re-construction of the affected parts of the Onitsha-Owerri Federal Road and particularly, the sections between Upper Iweka Round about in Onitsha and Oba in Idemili South L.G.A of Anambra State which span about 6 kilometres;

ii. Also urge the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to ensure regular surveillance of Federal high ways to identify and nip erosion threats to Federal roads in the bud;

iii. Further urge the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to join in the detection and prevention of erosion menace on the highways;

iv. Urge the Federal Ministry of Works and Ecological Fund Office to urgently fix the erosion menace in Ovom, Ogbor-Hill, Aba; and

v. Urge the SGF Office to constitute a team of Engineers to tour round and have an overview of erosion sites, design a template for possible control of erosion sites.

2. Urgent need for Erosion Control in Edo Central Senatorial District to save lives and properties by Senator Monday Okpebholo

Senate resolved to:

i. Urge for the collaboration of Federal agencies, namely; the Federal Ministry of Environment, Ecological Fund Office and the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing towards tackling the menace of erosion devastation in Edo Senatorial District;

ii. Also urge the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to collaborate and carry out emergency works on Ekpoma (Uhiele, Ujoelen, Ukpenu, Borehole Road & Emuhi), Irrua (Uwasan and Ikekato), Ewu (Egare and Uzogholo), Uromi (Efandion, Eguare & Uzegwa), Udo and Illushi;

iii. Mandate the Committees on Environment, Ecology, Works, Special Duties, FERMA (when constituted) and Legislative Compliance to:

– Engage the Federal Ministry of Environment, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, MEMA and Ecological Fund Office to come up with a durable and lasting workplan to arrest the devastation;

– Involve FERMA to prevent the expressways and other roads in the area from further degradation; and

– Set up NEMA stations in Edo Central to assist residents in the event of emergency that could lead to loss of lives and properties.

3. Urgent need to Reconstruct/Rehabilitate the Onitsha-33-Otuocha-Adani Roads Boundary to Enugu State by Senator Tony Nwoye

Senate resolved to:

i. Urge for the NNPCL and FIRS under the Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme to include this important road as a project to be prioritized, funded; and to be executed through the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing;

ii. Also urge the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to urgently commence design for the road and subsequent award (once NNPCL/FIRS captures the road and provides funding) of this economically important road as part of measures to guarantee food security and enhance security of lives and properties; and

iii. Further urge the Committees on Petroleum Resources Upstream and Works (when constituted) and Legislative Compliance to ensure implementation.

4. Urgent need for Intervention to arrest the Incessant Sea Incursion Ravaging Ayetoro Community in Ondo State by Senator Jiimoh Ibrahim

Senate resolved to:

i. Mandate the Committees on NDDC, Environment and Ecology (when constituted), to interface with relevant Ministries to work out modalities for instant intervention in the disaster;

ii. Also mandate the Committee on NDDC (when constituted) to conduct an investigation into the N6.5 Billion-shoreline protection contract awarded by the NDDC in 2006 with a view to finding an alternative solution where necessary, to stem the dangerous slide and report back within four weeks for further legislative action;

iii. Urge the various Committees of the Senate so mentioned to also look into the 2009 contracts after the revocation of the 2006 contract to ascertain why it was abandoned; and

iv. Urge the National and International Companies operating in the areas to leave up their corporate social responsibility within the environment.

ADJOURNMENT

Senate adjourned Plenary to Wednesday, 19th July, 2023.

Signed

New Media Unit

Office of the President of the Senate

Federal Republic of Nigeria