Okowa Assents To Bill Prohibiting Extortion, Illegal Collection Of Fees

By Kenneth Orusi, Asaba
The activities of touts popularly called “area boys”, who harass developers in Delta State may have come to an end as the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has assented to a bill to outlaw illegal collections, popularly known as ‘deve’ and forceful entry by touts into development sites in the state.
The bill known as “Delta State Public and Private Properties Protection Bill 2018”, was presented to the governor by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori in company of the Clerk, Mrs Lyna Ocholor and other Principal Officers.
Okowa also, assented to a bill to amend the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Developmental Commission (DESOPADEC) law.
The governor after signing the bills said that harassment of property developers in the name of “deve” had chased away a lot of developers from the state, expressing confidence that with the signing into law of the bill prohibiting illegal and forceful entry into development sites, the state would witness speedy development.
“We will collaborate with the State House of Assembly to ensure that laws are passed to impact positively on the lives of our people. I am glad that this bill to prohibit the forcefully entry into public and private properties has been passed into law as it will stop youths from trespassing into property development sites in the state and make investment to thrive.
“This prohibition will impact on the lives of our people and bring investment sanity into the state”, Okowa said.
The governor stated that the amendment of the DESOPADEC bill was meant to ensure that no vacuum was created in the leadership of the Commission, adding that government can now extend the tenure of the Board under given circumstances.
He commended the Speaker and members of the House for their cordial relationship with the Executive arm in bringing development to the people and impacting on the lives of Deltans.
Earlier, Rt. Hon. Oborevwori while presenting the bills for assent disclosed that the bills passed through all the processes required for them to be passed by the legislature.
He added that the bills were meant to impact on people of the state, create peace, boost the economy and bring development to the state.
Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (left), assisted by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori (right), and the Clark of the House, Mrs Lyna Ocholor, signing into Law, the Delta State Public and Private Properties Bill, 2018 and the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2018.

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