By Eseoghene Emuke
A bill seeking for the creation of Coastal Areas Development Agency (CADA) has been sent to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Sheriff Oborevwori for approval to tackle the underdevelopment of riverine communities in the state.
The bill, a brainchild of popular environmental activist and peace ambassador, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, upon passage by the State House of Assembly, will help address the challenges facing riverine dwellers in the state.
Mulade, who hails from Gbaramatu Kingdom in the Warri South West Local Government Area of the state, said the bill modeled after the Warri, Uvwie and Environs Development Agency (WUEDA) and the Asaba Capital Territory Agency (ACTA) which are now in full operation.
According to documents made available to NIGER DELTA TODAY, copies of the bill had been received by the governor and the speaker of the state legislature.
Mulade also confirmed the receipt of the bill by Okowa and Oborevwori on Friday.
“It was received at the Delta State Government House, Asaba, a copy of which was received by the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly on behalf of the State legislature on the 22nd of January, 2020.
“The Bill is in line with the demands by Deltans in the coastal communities seeking legislation to create an agency that will fast track the development of coastal communities in the State”, he stated.
He added that the need to create the agency had become exigent following the revenue contribution of the riverine communities to the revenue allocation to the state.
“It is imperative to state here that the coastal communities are the live wire and resource base of Delta State, therefore they deserve a fair share of government support and access to basic social amenities.
“It is sad that billions of naira generated from the riverine environment are used to develop other areas thereby leaving the coastal communities undeveloped” Mulade further posited.
