I’ve Delivered on Lawmaking, Representation, Oversight, Attracted Projects to Ethiope East — Akpowowo

The Deputy Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olorogun Arthur Akpowowo, has said he has delivered on his legislative responsibilities through lawmaking, grassroots representation and oversight, while also attracting development projects to Ethiope East.

Akpowowo stated this in an exclusive interview with Oasis Magazine on Thursday in Eku, while assessing his performance after three and a half years in office and highlighting some of the interventions recorded during his tenure.

According to him, the responsibilities of a lawmaker are lawmaking, representation and oversight of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government.

He said he had, to the best of his ability, discharged the three responsibilities effectively, both as an individual legislator and as part of the Delta State House of Assembly.

Lawmaking

Speaking on his legislative activities, Akpowowo said he had sponsored bills and co-sponsored bills introduced by other members of the House.

He explained that because of his position as Deputy Speaker, lawmakers who sponsor private member bills often approach him to co-sponsor their legislation, helping such bills progress through the various stages of consideration.

He stressed that lawmaking was a collective responsibility, noting that even a legislator with strong ideas could not successfully pass legislation without securing the support of other members.

Akpowowo said he had particularly developed an interest in environmental legislation because of his conviction that a better environment would contribute to healthier citizens and reduce the burden of healthcare costs.

“I’ve sponsored bills personally, especially bills that have to do with the environment,” he said.

The Deputy Speaker, who is a lawyer, said his interest in environmental issues had developed over time and that he wanted to use legislation to contribute to a healthier environment in Delta State.

Accessibility and Grassroots Representation

On representation, Akpowowo said he had fulfilled his campaign promise to remain accessible and available to his constituents.

He noted that constituents could visit him without encountering the heavily armed security presence often associated with political office holders.

According to him, he returns home every weekend, attends social events, mourns with those who are bereaved and celebrates with those marking important occasions.

He also disclosed that he operates a functional constituency office in Isiokolo, staffed with aides who attend to constituents who cannot travel to Eku.

He said concerns received through the office are transmitted to him for appropriate legislative action.

Akpowowo also identified town hall meetings as an important component of his representation strategy.

He recalled organising a town hall meeting to mark his first year in office, bringing together traditional rulers, market associations, President-Generals of various progress unions, students and civil society organisations.

Continuing, he said the meeting gave him the opportunity to brief stakeholders on what he had done and what he intended to do, while also allowing constituents to identify projects and other interventions needed in their communities.

Empowerment Programmes

The Deputy Speaker also highlighted his empowerment programmes as part of his efforts to improve the living conditions of his constituents.

He recalled that his first major empowerment programme became an example for other lawmakers after the Speaker of the House encouraged members to emulate him.

According to Akpowowo, the member representing Sapele Constituency, who is also the Chief Whip of the House, subsequently organised his own empowerment programme, which members of the Assembly attended.

Akpowowo said he later held another town hall meeting coupled with empowerment on March 7, 2026, at Baptist High School.

He maintained that representation went beyond legislative activities in the chamber, stressing that elected representatives must remain connected to the people they serve.

“I have represented my people very well. I’m available for them,” he said.

School Projects Across the Constituency

Akpowowo also highlighted his efforts to attract infrastructure development to schools within the constituency.

He disclosed that he was working on Ugono Primary School, Urhuoka Primary School 1 and Oviorie Primary School.

According to him, Ugono Primary School and Urhuoka Primary School 1 require rehabilitation, while the condition of Oviorie Primary School is so poor that the existing structure would be demolished and rebuilt.

He explained that constituency projects were intended to address identified needs in communities, with the relevant government ministries carrying out assessments and determining the appropriate intervention.

Akpowowo said his position as Deputy Speaker also gives him the opportunity to attract more constituency projects than an ordinary member of the House.

He disclosed that the projects were expected to be completed by October 2026.

Eku-Abraka Road Intervention

The Deputy Speaker also recalled his intervention in the poor condition of the road linking Eku and Abraka, describing it as one of the areas where he had worked to attract government attention to a pressing community need.

He said shortly after his inauguration in 2023, he prepared a motion of urgent public importance over the deteriorating condition of the road.

However, he said officials of the House advised him to first discuss the matter with Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.

Akpowowo said he subsequently approached the governor and explained the difficulties residents were experiencing as a result of the poor condition of the road.

According to him, the governor immediately contacted Obakpor Engineering and directed the company to scope the road.

He said the road was subsequently rehabilitated from Eku through Abraka to Obiaruku, providing an alternative route for residents at the time.

He recalled that the federal Eku-Agbor Road was also in poor condition, making the intervention particularly important to residents travelling between the communities.

Oversight of Government

On his oversight responsibilities, Akpowowo said the House had continued to monitor the activities and expenditure of government Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

He explained that the Assembly’s responsibility goes beyond appropriating funds, as lawmakers must also follow up to determine how approved allocations are being utilised.

According to him, the House examines what has been spent, the projects executed and what remains from appropriated funds.

Akpowowo said his assessment of his first term was therefore based on the three core responsibilities of a legislator and the tangible interventions he had been able to facilitate in his constituency.

He maintained that he had gone beyond the traditional functions of a lawmaker by also providing empowerment and welfare support to constituents who approached him for assistance.

“As an individual, I can say that I have carried out these three functions effectively, and as a House, I can say that the House has done very well in these regards,” he said.

The Deputy Speaker said he remained committed to using his position to attract development and improve the welfare of his constituents as his first term draws to a close.

I’ve Delivered on Lawmaking, Representation, Oversight, Attracted Projects to Ethiope East — Akpowowo

NESREA Seals Four Nasarawa Facilities Over Pollution, EIA Violations

By: Michael Mike

The Federal Government has intensified its crackdown on environmentally harmful industrial activities, with the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) sealing four facilities in Nasarawa State over alleged breaches of environmental regulations.

The latest enforcement action, carried out on Thursday by the agency’s Karu Operational Office, affected ABZAT Quarry, Hoafong Mining Trading Company Ltd, Emono Venture and Mivanyi Integrated Farms.

NESREA said the facilities were shut down for offences ranging from air pollution to failure to possess required environmental management documents, including Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

The operation was led by the Head of Operations of the Karu Operational Office, Mr Da’am Monday.

The agency’s action is significant given the environmental risks associated with quarrying, mining and other industrial activities, particularly their potential impact on air quality, land, water resources and the health of communities hosting such operations.

Nigeria’s environmental regulatory framework specifically provides for the control of pollution from quarrying and blasting operations. NESREA’s regulations on the sector are designed to control the effects of such activities on the environment and human health while promoting responsible exploitation of natural resources.

Similarly, the agency maintains specific regulations governing air quality, with the stated objective of improving air quality and protecting human health, flora, fauna and other resources from deterioration caused by air pollutants.

The Nasarawa enforcement comes against the backdrop of growing regulatory attention to pollution and environmental degradation associated with industrial and extractive activities across the country.

NESREA, established under the 2007 Act, is empowered to enforce Nigeria’s environmental laws, standards, guidelines and regulations and to prohibit activities and processes capable of undermining environmental quality.

In recent years, the agency has increasingly resorted to sealing non-compliant facilities rather than allowing operators to continue activities while disregarding environmental requirements.

In September 2025, for instance, NESREA sealed 29 facilities across Ekiti, Osun and Ogun States, citing environmental pollution and regulatory breaches. The agency said some of the affected recycling operations posed serious health risks because of hazardous waste generated from their processes.

The agency has also taken enforcement action against quarrying operations in the Federal Capital Territory. In February 2026, NESREA shut a quarry in Abuja following a fatal blasting incident involving a 10-year-old boy, with officials stressing that the quarry had previously been sealed as part of enforcement efforts.

The pattern has underscored a central challenge for environmental regulation in Nigeria: balancing economic activities such as mining, quarrying, construction and manufacturing with the obligation to prevent pollution and protect communities.

The issue of environmental documentation is particularly important in the latest Nasarawa action.

An Environmental Impact Assessment is intended to identify and evaluate the potential environmental consequences of projects before or during their implementation and to provide a framework for mitigating harmful effects.

NESREA has repeatedly cited failure to conduct or obtain the necessary environmental assessments among violations that have led to facility closures. In an earlier enforcement operation, the agency sanctioned construction facilities for lacking required environmental documents, including Environmental Impact Statements and Environmental Audit Reports.

For quarrying operations, environmental controls also cover issues such as air pollution, noise pollution, spills and leaks, environmental management plans and emissions associated with quarry operations.

Against this background, the sealing of the four Nasarawa facilities signals that regulatory compliance is being treated as an operational requirement rather than an optional administrative formality.

NESREA reiterated its commitment to enforcing environmental laws and regulations across the country, warning facilities to adopt environmentally responsible practices and deploy the best available technology in their operations.

The agency said the enforcement exercise demonstrated its resolve to safeguard the environment, protect public health and promote sustainable development.

The latest action therefore sends a wider message to operators in Nigeria’s mining, quarrying, agricultural and industrial sectors: economic activity will not be allowed to override environmental obligations, particularly where pollution or regulatory violations could expose surrounding communities to health and environmental risks.

NESREA’s continuing enforcement drive also places renewed focus on the need for industries to obtain the necessary environmental approvals, maintain proper environmental management systems and ensure that their operations meet prescribed national standards before and during production.

NESREA Seals Four Nasarawa Facilities Over Pollution, EIA Violations

NDLEA Moves to Standardise Drug Rehabilitation, Trains Over 100 Counsellors Nationwide

By: Michael Mike

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has commenced a nationwide capacity-building programme for its counsellors as part of efforts to standardise treatment and rehabilitation services for people affected by substance use disorders.

The first phase of the training, being held at the NDLEA Academy in Jos, Plateau State, has brought together more than 100 counsellors drawn from the agency’s formations across the country.

The exercise, coordinated by the Directorate of Counselling, Treatment and Rehabilitation (DCTR), is the first agency-driven training of its kind for NDLEA counsellors in several years.

Speaking at the commencement of the programme on Friday, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), said the initiative was designed to strengthen the agency’s rehabilitation pillar and ensure that clients receive evidence-based and quality interventions.

Marwa, who was represented by the Director, Counselling, Treatment and Rehabilitation, Bashir Ibrahim, said the evolving nature of substance abuse required counsellors to continually update their knowledge and therapeutic skills.

He said the programme would harmonise counselling and rehabilitation practices across NDLEA facilities nationwide by introducing uniform operational protocols and improving clinical competencies.

According to him, the training will also equip counsellors to better respond to emerging psychoactive substances and cases involving co-occurring mental health disorders, while ensuring that the agency’s practices conform to national and international standards.

Marwa listed other objectives of the programme as strengthening professional ethics, confidentiality and quality assurance; improving data management for evidence-based policymaking; promoting continuous professional development through peer review and clinical supervision; and reducing inconsistencies in service delivery.

He said the initiative was also aimed at improving rehabilitation outcomes and reinforcing the integrity of Nigeria’s drug treatment and rehabilitation system.

“The training is critical to revitalising staff morale and equipping officers with modern therapeutic tools to tackle the evolving complexities of substance use disorders,” he said.

The NDLEA boss assured that the agency would continue to invest in the professional development of its personnel as part of its comprehensive strategy for reducing both the supply and demand for illicit drugs in Nigeria.

He said strengthening the counselling workforce remained essential to achieving sustainable outcomes in the agency’s drug demand reduction efforts.

Marwa added that the agency would continue to entrench global best practices in its interventions, with a view to ensuring that rehabilitation services provided in its facilities meet acceptable professional and clinical standards.

NDLEA Moves to Standardise Drug Rehabilitation, Trains Over 100 Counsellors Nationwide