…Passes Environmental Protection Bill Into Law
The Rivers State House of Assembly said it would never support calls for government funding and training of persons to operate modular refineries.
This followed a submission by the lawmaker representing Ogu Bolo Constituency, Hon. Evans Bipi that government should provide funds and training for those that would be displaced by clampdown of illegal refineries.
He argued that it was wrong for those engaged in illegal refineries to be displaced without adequate provision made by government in terms of training and funding.
The Speaker Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi Owaji Ibani said such persons should be treated like criminals and should have no respite.
Meanwhile, the House has passed into Law, the Rivers State Environmental Protection and Management Amendment Bill number 7 of 2019.
The bill which was passed during plenary after a robust debate by lawmakers would when assented to check the excesses of the activities of illegal refiners and other environmental hazzards in the state.
It also makes it a criminal offence and would sentence anyone involved in actions that causes soot including burning of tires and operation of illegal refineries to 6 years imprisonment without an option of fine.
