C'River: Odukpani Pushes Bill for Local Emergency Management Agency
By Ekanem Asuquo
The Odukpani Legislative Council has taken a decisive step toward strengthening grassroots disaster response with the advancement of a bill seeking to establish a Local Emergency Management Agency (LEMA).
The bill, sponsored by Hon. Okokon Okon Ekpenyong, Councilor representing Ito/Idere/Ukwa Ward, has already scaled second reading after overwhelming support from members. It was subsequently referred to the House Special Committee, which recommended inputs from the public to enrich the draft for in-depth scrutiny.
If passed, the agency will provide a legal framework for disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation, while fostering stronger collaboration with state and federal emergency agencies.
Hon. Ekpenyong, highlighting the urgency of the proposal, pointed to the rising cases of landslides, communal clashes, flooding, erosion, fire outbreaks, and road accidents as justification for localized intervention.
“This bill is about building capacity at the local level to safeguard lives, property, and livelihoods whenever emergencies strike,” he explained.
A public hearing has been scheduled to gather contributions from stakeholders and interest groups across the disaster management ecosystem.
According to the Clerk of the Legislature, Mrs. Victoria Aqua, members of the public, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders are expected to submit 14 copies of their memoranda on or before September 1, 2025.
Stakeholders have welcomed the initiative as timely, noting Odukpani’s strategic location as the gateway to Calabar, Central, and Northern Cross River, which makes it particularly vulnerable to traffic-related accidents, flooding, and environmental hazards linked to deforestation and heavy rainfall.
Observers believe that once operational, the Local Emergency Management Agency will bridge existing response gaps, ensuring that communities receive timely assistance rather than waiting for state or federal relief.
Contributions from the public hearing will be incorporated into the bill ahead of its third reading, and eventual passage.
