...as Sampson, Aniekan Bassey, others, co-sponsor motion on poor state of road infrastructure, erosion menace in Nigeria

...assures on fight to provide jobs for Akwa Ibom youths


By Samuel Udoma, ABUJA


Senator representing Akwa Ibom South in the National Assembly, Dr Ekong Sampson has been appointed into the 11-man Senate Ad-hoc Committee to investigate alleged abuse of firearms by officers of the Nigerian Custom Service.

The set up of the Committee followed the motion titled, 'Urgent Need to Investigate the Abuse of Firearms by Officers of Nigerian Custom Service in Katsina' sponsored by Senator Abdulaziz Yar'adua(Katsina Central), yesterday at the Senate plenary, National Assembly, Abuja.

The motion expressed worry that 'some officers of the NCS who should be civil and professional in their engagements and handling of firearms have had series of shootings of innocent citizens'. Senator Yar'adua noted that such arm recklessness had resulted in many fatalities in Katsina state and in other parts of the country. He condemned the indiscriminate abuse of firearms and called for proper investigation into the incidents.

In its resolution on the motion, the Senate at the plenary, presided over by Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, announced an Ad-hoc Committee to look into the matter with urgency. The Committee which is headed by a former Custom Officer, Senator Adenigba Fadahunsi,(Osun East) has Senator Ekong Sampson as member.

Other members of the Committee include Senators Shuaibu Lau(PDP-Taraba) Kawu Sumaila (NNPP- Kano), Tony Nwoye (LP Anambra), Umar Sadiq,(APC-Kwara) and Senator Solomon Adeola,(APC-Ogun)

Others are Senator Abdulaziz Yar’adua (APC-Katsina),Olajide Emmanuel (APC-Ondo), Mohammed Muntari (APC-Katsina) and Napoleon Bali (PDP- Plateau). The Committee has six weeks to present reports of its findings to the Senate.

Also at the plenary yesterday, Senator Ekong Sampson and his Akwa Ibom North East counterpart, Senator Aniekan Bassey were among the co-sponsors of a motion seeking attention to the poor state of road infrastructure and menace of gully erosion in Nigeria. Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau was the lead sponsor.

The motion noted the deplorable state of many federal roads across the country. It equally expressed worry over the 'menace of erosion, with deep gullies, cutting off some communities from other parts of the country'. The motion observed that despite huge amount of money spent on road construction and rehabilitation in Nigeria since the return of democracy, there have been minimal positive impact on the condition of the roads.

It further observed that 'the collapse has led to a decline in agricultural activities, adversely affecting movement of agricultural produce from rural areas and across the country'. These were in addition to 'chilling statistics on loss of lives to accidents as a result of bad state of roads in the country'.

The motion prayed the Senate to set up an Ad-hoc Committee to come up with a compendium of all affected roads and erosion sites in the country for urgent intervention.

Meanwhile, Senator Sampson has assured of his commitment to provide jobs for the teeming youths of Akwa Ibom South and indeed, Akwa Ibom State in general. Sampson stated this when he received a former General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, Barr. Joyce Oduah, in his office recently.

Senator Ekong Sampson noted that apart from his normal legislative functions, he will explore ways to ensure that youths of Akwa Ibom South and Akwa Ibom State generally, gained employment.

The National Assemblyman reiterated that human capital development was a key concern to him and remained paramount in his Senate representation. Senator Sampson hinted that he has set up a Special Desk in his office to handle employment issues for Akwa Ibom youths in both the private and public sectors. Recall that over the years, Onomkpoinam Mkpat Enin has pursued employment for a lot of youths from the State.

In her remarks, Barr. Oduah said that she came to congratulate Senator Sampson on his victory. The former NBA scribe, who hails from Oron but married in Delta State, expressed sentiments that having known Senator Ekong Sampson over the years, she was confident that he will offer Akwa Ibom South, effective representation in the National Assembly.

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