By Uko Etim

UYO—The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has ordered a crackdown on all unregistered dispatch riders operating in the state, citing growing security concerns and revenue leakages.

The resolution was adopted at plenary following the consideration of a motion by Mr. Ukpong Akpabio, member representing Essien Udim State Constituency.

The motion titled,”The Need to Comprehensively Enforce Industry Regulations and Guidelines on Unregistered Dispatch Riders in Akwa Ibom State” was thoroughly debated by all members present.

The resolution directed the Ministry of Transport to immediately commence and sustain a comprehensive review of existing operational guidelines regulating dispatch riding services in the State, with a specific focus on identifying and sanctioning unregistered operators.

The House urged its Committee on Works and Transport to ensure strict compliance with the resolution.

Akpabio in the motion said there was urgent need for strict enforcement of regulations governing dispatch riding operations.

He cited growing security concerns, revenue leakages, and unfair competition, arising from the activities of unregistered operators in the state.

In another motion of urgent public importance, sponsored by Mr Kenim Onofiok, member representing Oron/Udung Uko state constituency for remediation and disaster intervention at gully erosion in Oron Local Government Area.

The House in the resolution called on the State Government, through the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources to immediately declare a state of emergency on the gully erosion site threatening the area.

The assembly called for immediate mobilisation of civil engineering contractors to undertake emergency shoreline stabilisation, drainage channelisation, and structural remediation works to halt the rapid expansion of the erosion ravines.

The House in the resolution called on the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to urgently provide relief materials and implement temporary relocation measures for affected families and communities, who were at risk.

They urged the state government to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Ecological Project Office to secure funding and implement long-term engineering solutions to protect the area.

The house directed the committee on Environment and Mineral Resources to immediately conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the affected erosion sites and submit actionable recommendations to the House.

The Speaker, Mr Udeme Otong, directed the clerk, Mrs NsikakAbasi Orok, to communicate all resolutions of the House to the relevant authorities for immediate implementation and necessary action.