By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
KOGI State House of Assembly has passed a Bill for a Law to restrict movement of heavy duty trucks in Lokoja metropolis alongside three other bills, which is now awaiting the assent of the State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo.
The bill which was passed at Tuesday plenary sitting with the three others is aimed at restricting the movement of heavy duty trucks on the township roads constructed below their carriage weights.
The bill which also aims to curb or reduce the frequency of road accidents on the Felelearea of Lokoja-Abuja highway and other parts of the State.
The four bills where passed after clause-by-clause consideration followed by their adoption and subsequent third reading by the Clerk of the House.
The other three other bills passed include a Bill for a Law to provide for the Kogi State Agency for Climate Change (Establishment) Law and other matters connected thereto, 2025, Bill for a Law establishing the Kogi State Bureau of Lands and other matters connected therewith 2025.
The third is the Bill for a Law to Repeal the Local Government Electoral Law, 2004 and enact Kogi State Local Government Electoral Law, 2025.
Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf, Speaker of the House and Chairman of the Committee of the Whole, speaking after the passage of the bills, said some of the bills passed were very important in the life of our state.
Of particular interest, he said, was the bill restricting movement of heavy duty trucks which touched on the lives of residents and students in Felele area of Lokoja which are always in danger as a result of auto crashes involving trucks on the road.
Speaker Yusuf said that with the location of Federal University, Lokoja and Kogi State Polytechnic in the area, any time accidents occur on the highway “it is the lives of our young ones who will be the leaders of tomorrow that are always in danger.”
The Speaker lamented that they always loose their lives as well as properties worth millions of Naira which often go in flames with little or nothing being done.
“So, with this proactive step taken by Kogi State today, we want to believe that the road users coming from the North and the South will understand that we have a very peculiar situation that necessitated the passing of this law so that we can keep the lives of our people safe”, he said.
Rt Hon . Yusuf explained that the restriction of the vehicles would be between the hours of 6 am and 6 pm as he urged the road users to abide by the law for the overall good of the State.
On the Climate Change Bill, the Speaker explained that it is expected to give the State the opportunity to have more access to information as he urged the people to take proper care of their environment.
Speaker Yusuf commended the Lawmakers for their expertise, as he urged them to expose themselves to seminars and workshop to broaden their knowledge of Lawmaking.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo is expected to assent to the four bills soon. (Ends)