Thursday, 29 December 2016

AKHA passes State Town and Country planning Law ...wants Gov Udom to revive abandoned Oil palm mill in Ukanafun

AKHA passes State Town and Country planning Law ...wants Gov Udom to revive abandoned Oil palm mill in Ukanafun
A bill for a law to amend the Akwa Ibom State Town and country planning law and other matters connected therewith, have been passed into law by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.

The private member bill which is sponsored by the member representing Esit-Eket/Ibeno state constituency, Hon. Usoro Akpanusoh, makes provisions to back relevant government agency with law to regulate masts and towers installations in the state and ensure compliance with Akwa Ibom State Laws and Regulations on Physical Planning and Urban Development.
The law which was passed during tuesday’s plenary, empowers the state to regulate the development of physical structures which is within the purview of physical planning.

Submitting report on the bill, the Chairman of the House Committee on Lands, Housing and Urban Renewal, Hon Otobong Jonathan explained that the committee in its findings observed “That the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Act provides in section 2 for states to take responsibilities over physical planning in their jurisdictions’

Reacting, Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Barr. Onofiok Luke commended the sponsor, Hon. Usoro Akpanusoh for his foresight, and also thanked the Committee Chairman, Hon. Jonathan and members of the House for their commitment towards advancing the wellbeing of the people.

Also today, the ÿþÿþÿþAkwa Ibom State House of Assembly passed a resolution urging Governor Udom Emmanuel to direct the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and other relevant agencies to see to the immediate workability of Ukanafun oil palm mill and other of such mills owned by the state government.

The resolution was passed following a motion moved by member representing Ukanafun State Constituency, Hon (Deacon) Otobong Akpan seeking the “revitalization of Ukanafun oil palm mill and such other mills in the state for provision of jobs, industrial raw material and boosting internally generated revenue”

The motion was seconded by representing Esit Eket/Ibeno State constituency, Rt Hon Usoro Akpanusoh

Presenting the motion, Hon Akpan said “the functioning of this palm oil will create more than a thousand direct jobs for the citizens the internally generated revenues of Ukanafun local government area and indeed Akwa Ibom State”

He informed the House that the purpose of constructing the gigantic palm oil mill was to process palm produce for industrial and domestic uses.

He however regretted that the building which was built during Attah’s administration have been abandoned to be covered with cobweb without any palm produce being processed.

“Whereas this great and life touching investment is covered with cobweb, the engine has never been cranked nor any single palm produce processed since it was built”.

In his remarks, the Speaker, Rt Hon Onofiok Luke thanked Hon Otobong Akpan for leaving up to the expectations of his people and noted that the revitalization of the oil palm mill both in Ukanafun and other places in Akwa Ibom will bring the needed industrialisation to the State.

He maintained that the House is in support of the industrialization policy of Governor Udom Emmanuel and noted that oil palm mill will help to generate revenue for the state.

In a related development, the House also received a “Motion on the need to curb the proliferation of filling stations within residential buildings and places of public assembly.The motion sponsored by member representing Ibesikpo Asutan State constituency, Rt Hon Elder Aniekan Uko seeks to stop the construction of filling stations around residential buildings and places of assembly among other things.

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