Imo Assembly passes into Law three people oriented Bills presented by Deputy Speaker, Majority Leader, Chief Whip

By CHINYERE Nnaemeka

The Imo State House of Assembly has passed into Law; A Bill for a Law to establish the Light-Up Imo Project (presented by the Majority Leader of the House, Rt. Hon. Kanayo Onyemaech), A Bill for a Law to establish the Orashi Special Energy Free Trade Zone (by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Chyna Amarachi Iwuanyanwu), and A Bill for a Law to Repeal the Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission Law No. 13 of 2010 and to enact a Law to establish a Commission for the development of the Oil Producing Areas in Imo State ( Sponsored by the Chief Whip, Rt. Hon. Chigozie Nwaneri).

The Bills were passed on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, after the reports of the House Committees which the Bills were committed to House Committee on Power for the Light Up Imo Project Bill, Joint Committees on ISOPADEC/Oil and Gas & Commerce and industry for the other two Bills, were deliberated on during the Committee of the Whole House.

The Bills were considered Clause by Clause, and certain amendments made before it was passed into Law when the the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon Chike Olemgbe, put it to vote and the Ayes had it.

The Speaker further instructed the Clerk of the House to send a copy of the Bill to Governor Hope Uzodimma for Final Assent.

It would be recalled that the three Bill which were lifted from the Notice of Presentation of Bills Section of the Order Paper of the House on Thursday, September 5, 2024, was read the first, second time, and committed to the aforementioned committees for them to submit their reports during the House plenary on the aforementioned day.

The Bill on establishment of the Light-Up Imo Project presented by the Majority Leader, Rt. Hon. Kanayo Onyemaech is to ensure that Imo people begins to enjoy uninterrupted power supply from a steady source, which according to him is why the State Government have decided to leverage on the recently enacted Electricity Reforms Law No. 2 of 2024 to ensure that the 27 Local Government Areas in the State are provided with sustainable and reliable electricity supply.

“The project is to facilitate the rehabilitation, expansion and maintenance of the state’s electricity infrastructure, ensuring stable power generation, transmission and distribution throughout the twenty seven (27) Local Government Areas of Imo State. To set the ball rolling, the State Government and the 27 Local Government Areas in the state have executed a memorandum of Agreement(MOA) with a private sector partner known as Orashi Electricity Company Limited, and the execution of the project has already began”.

“To ensure it’s sustainability, it is being presented before the House of Assembly to be made a Law.”

Similarly, the Bill for a Law to establish the Orashi Special Energy Free Trade Zone presented by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Amarachi Iwuanyanwu, is to boost the economy of the State as there will be power supply for industries to thrive, and investors attracted to invest in the state.

It will also led to harnessing of the gas deposits in Imo, which he said has not been done by past Imo State Governments.

“In Nigeria today power supply has being the main issue which is why many businesses have collapsed, but with this Orashi Special Energy Free Trade Zone, we will be able to turn our economy from consumption to production.

“We have huge gas deposit in the state and no government has been able to set up a roadmap to harness it, but today we have a governor that has a vision of making sure such narrative changes through this bill.

“The benefits of the project is enormous as we will have industries, warehouses, business marketers, exportation, exemption of taxes, and reduction of different tariffs that will aid any business in Imo to blossom.”

Then, the Bill for a Law to Repeal the Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission Law No. 13 of 2010 and to enact a Law to establish a Commission for the development of the Oil Producing Areas in Imo State, sponsored by the Chief Whip of the House, Rt. Hon. Chigozie Nwaneri, provides among others for the commission to receive and administer exclusively, Forty percent (40%) of the thirteen percent (13%) Oil derivation fund accruing to Imo State from the Federal Government as an oil producing State for the purpose of – Rehabilitating and developing of the Oil Producing Areas of the State.

The Commission is also to liaise with relevant Federal and State Government authorities on the control and effective methods of tackling the problems of erosion, pollution spillage and other environmental problems in the State.

They are to also enlighten the Oil Producing Areas about the efforts of the Government to pay special attention to the developmental needs of the oil Producing communities of the State, and executing such other works and projects including performing functions which in the opinion of the Commission are necessary for sustainable development of the Oil Producing Areas of Imo State.