By Peter Nwasike
The
persistent excavation of laterite, stone and sand, in various places, have
ignited the concern of lawmakers in Anambra State, at their plenary session, at
Awka. In a motion of “URGENT PUBLIC IMPRTANCE”, Hon. Chief Lawrence Ezeudu,
(APGA, Dunukofia), raised alarm of the devastating effect of the illegal
excavations, and the environmental degradation it caused. He was seconded by
Hon. Barr. Chukwuka Ezenwunne (APGA, Idemili South).
Expatiating on the motion, Hon. Ezeudu,
intimated that during their “OVERSIGHT FUNCTION”, at various erosion sites, in
the State, they visited the defunct, Airport Site at Oba, in Idemili South LGA,
and discovered that many unauthorized persons had trespassed into the place,
and engaged in indiscriminate minning of soil, stone, sharp sand, for their
illegal commercial purposes. He said that when they came, they discovered a
signpost, mounted by the Ministry of Environment, with the inscription:”STOP
EXCAVATION OF SOIL”, but inspite of this warning, people continued to indulge
in the illegal practices. He said that the gully they created were so deep that
it could swallow two-stories building. He said that the nearby places, have
been witnessing large cracks of gully, and if not checked, they could aggravate
into large scale erosion proportion. He called on the Governor, Chief Willie
Obiano, to use an Executive Order, and stop the illegal excavation of laterite,
stone and sharp sand, in the area, and other places, immediately.
In his contribution, Hon. Barr.
Chukwuka Ezenwunne, whose area the environmental degradation is being
aggravated, said that the place was a site acquired by the Government of Old
Anambra State, for Airport project, but was not executed, by the Military
Government in 1985. But when the civilian Government, came, they evaluated it
as unsuitable for Airport, due to proximity of bad torpography that precipitate
erosion. But unfortunately some land speculators encroached into it, and began to
sell land for building and for sand excavation for business. He called for such
illegal business transactions to stop, as it is detrimental to the welfare of
people.
In his ruling, the Speaker, Rt. Hon.
Uchenna Okafor, frowned at such illegal business enterprises, and asserted that
the House was “urging the Governor, Chief Obiano, to issue an Executive Order,
prohibiting the unauthorized excavation of laterite, stones and sharp sand at
the defunct Airport Site, and prosecute the defaulters, henceforth.
