On Tuesday, 16th July, 2019, Hon. Kolade Victor Akinjo successfully moved a motion of urgent public importance calling on the Federal Government and all its relevant Agencies to intervene in the ecological disaster afflicting the his people and the land in Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency, Ondo State.
Read:
The House:
Notes the recent devastating ocean surge which destroyed properties worth millions and hundreds of residents rendered homeless in Awoye, Molutehin, Mese, Ayetoro, orioke-Iwamimo, Abereke, and Gbagira communities, all in the Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency in Ondo State;
Also notes that the constant and unmitigated surge has led to the displacement of inhabitants of these communities thereby affecting their traditional livelihood which ultimately has caused them untold hardship with inexplicable implications on the education of their children and by extension the aged population whose lives are in peril;
Disturbed that many times the wave of the ocean surge comes with devastating silting of the waterways with mud thereby changing the navigation pattern of the people on the waterways by constantly studying the tides to be able to move from place to place;
Also disturbed that the constant situation of this geographical belt due to sea ingression and exgression has cumulatively made many of the fresh water routes impassable for our people thereby making life and economic activities acutely difficult for the riverine communities;
Aware that this affected geographical area is host to many oil companies whose oil exploration has attendant unimaginable environmental and social infrastructure consequences ranging from water and air pollution, contamination of water tables leading to lack of portable water and electricity;
Appreciates the intervention of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Ondo State Government which in the overall is meager compared to the volume of immediate and remote unattended challenges still confronting the people occupying the coastline of Ondo State which is the largest in Nigeria;
Concerned that if urgent and adequate steps are not taken to reverse this disturbing environmental problems by providing basic infrastructure such as shoreline protection to the already threatened communities, dredging of canals and fresh waterways in the area, the incessant ocean surge, may apart from its existential proclivities, further lead to more loss of lives and properties and importation of devastating social consequences;
Conscious of the fact that if the determined efforts of the Federal Government is devoted to tackling these challenges, permanent solution can be achieved.
Resolves to:
(i) Call on the Federal Government as a matter of urgency to intervene through its Ecological Fund Office (EFO) and other associated agencies, initiate, evaluate and develop and fund the process of immediate emergency remediation plan and to maintain or curtail the environmental dangers already posed or where possible, resettle the people in a new location;
(ii) Urge the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta, Ministry of Environment and Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), to restructure its Project Priority Plan for Ondo State in its subsequent budget proposals to accommodate and tackle the challenges raised therein;
(iii) Mandate the Committees on Environment, NDDC, and Niger Delta Affairs to take a tour of the affected areas to ascertain the level of damages done, liaise with all relevant MDAs with a view to proffering informed and lasting solutions to situation;
(IV) Mandate NEMA to provide relief materials to the affected victims and communities ; and
(V) Also mandate the Committees on Environment and Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance of prayer (i) and (ii).
