AKHA PUBLIC HEARING: CHRAN Rejects Akwa Ibom Polystyrene (Styrofoam) Prohibition Bill

AKHA PUBLIC HEARING:
CHRAN Rejects Akwa Ibom Polystyrene (Styrofoam) Prohibition Bill

• Endorses Scrap Metal Bill; and Akwa Ibom State Climate Change Bill

A PRESENTATION BY THE DIRECTOR OF CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS & ACCOUNTABILITY NETWORK (CHRAN), OTUEKONG FRANKLYN ISONG, AT THE PUBLIC HEARING ON “A BILL FOR A LAW TO REGULATE THE BUSINESS OF SCRAP METAL DEALERS AND SIMILAR GOODS AND FOR OTHER MATTERS CONNECTED THERETO; A BILL FOR A LAW TO PROVIDE FOR THE MAINSTREAMING OF CLIMATE CHANGE ACTIONS, ESTABLISH THE AKWA IBOM STATE COUNCIL ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND FOR OTHER MATTERS CONNECTED THERETO; AND AKWA IBOM STATE POLYSTYRENE (STYROFOAM) AND OTHER SINGLE USE PLASTICS (PROHIBITION) BILL,” HELD AT LUTON PARK HOTELS, OFF UDO UDOMA AVENUE, UYO, AKWA IBOM STATE, ON MONDAY, 9TH MARCH, 2026.

Protocol,

An Overview of the BILL FOR A LAW TO REGULATE THE BUSINESS OF SCRAP METAL DEALERS AND SIMILAR GOODS AND FOR OTHER MATTERS CONNECTED THERETO:
The Bill has 20 Sections and 2 Schedules. The Bill is divided into 3 functional Parts.

An Overview of the BILL FOR A LAW TO PROVIDE FOR THE MAINSTREAMING OF CLIMATE CHANGE ACTIONS, ESTABLISH THE AKWA IBOM STATE COUNCIL ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND FOR OTHER MATTERS CONNECTED THERETO.
The Bill has 36 sections and a Schedule. The Bill is divided into 8 functional Parts.

An Overview of AKWA IBOM STATE POLYSTYRENE (STYROFOAM) AND OTHER SINGLE USE PLASTICS (PROHIBITION) BILL.
The Bill has 3 sections.

The CHRAN has critically analysed these Bills and makes the following inputs:

On the Scrap Metal Dealers and Similar Goods Bill

1. In section 8(2) under Notification Requirements, the word “in” is omitted between the words “dealer” and “any” in the first line of the section.
2. In section 14(1) under Right to Enter and Inspect, the CHRAN suggests that the Notice should be in writing and must have been served not less than 14 days to the date of the proposed inspection.
3. In section 14(13)(b) under Right to Enter and Inspect, the CHRAN notes that the fine of five million Naira (N5m) or seven years imprisonment are too strict. The CHRAN suggests a fine of five hundred thousand Naira (N500,000.00) or a six months imprisonment.
4. In Schedule I – under Fees and Taxes, in paragraph 6(1), the CHRAN suggests that the Application Fee for a site licence should not be more than N50,000.00 while the Application Fee for a Collector’s Licence should not be more than N20,000.00. The Center suggests that the Renewal of Licence Fee for a Site should not be more than N25,000.00 while, Renewal of Collector’s Licence should not be more than N10,000.00.
5. In schedule I – paragraph 6(2)(3)(4) & (5) the CHRAN observes that this tax will amount to multiple taxation in view of the current tax law. The Center urges that paragraph 6(2)(3)(4) & (5) should be expunged from the Bill.
6. In Schedule II – under Application for Closure Order in paragraph 4(7) the CHRAN notes that the Magistrates’ Court Law of Akwa Ibom State, 2000 has been revised and is now Magistrates’ Court Law Cap 92, Laws of Akwa Ibom State, 2022.
7. The CHRAN notes that this is a good piece of legislation that should be supported because it will further strengthen the security architecture of Akwa Ibom state in line with the ARISE Agenda of the current administration.
8. The CHRAN endorses the bill and urges that the Center’s recommendations should be incorporated into the proposed law.

On the Akwa Ibom State Climate Change Bill:
The CHRAN considers this bill to be of great importance to state. The Center has critically reviewed the Bill. The Center notes that the Bill, as it were, should be completely reworked taking into consideration the ARISE Agenda of His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, Governor of Akwa Ibom State, and to enrich the Bill, the CHRAN will submit its comprehensive memorandum to the Committee after this public hearing.

On the Polystyrene (Styrofoam) and Other Single Use Plastics (Prohibition) Bill:

1. The Center notes that Western Countries, the first to condemn styrofoam and single use plastics are yet to promulgate laws prohibiting the manufacture and practice of styrofoam usage.
2. The Center notes that the Western countries rely solely on the power of persuasion rather than coercive laws.
3. In Nigeria, the manufacture of the plastics, whether of single or multiple uses provides massive employment opportunities for the citizens of the country and has not been shown or proven to be injurious to human health.
4. The Center notes that this attempt by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly to prohibit and punish the citizens on account of manufacture and usage of Styrofoam is a clear demonstration of the apparent irreconcilable class difference between the Members of the House of Assembly and the poor masses of the state, which the House of Assembly is supposed to represent, protect and be their mouthpiece.
5. The CHRAN notes that there is nothing urgent or compelling in the objectives of the proposed law to warrant the attention as indicated. The CHRAN notes that the objectives of the proposed law are atmost persuasive for future government interaction with the members of the public.
6. The CHRAN notes that this bill is a bad piece of legislation with oppressive characteristics; obnoxious provisions and it is anti-people.
7. The Center urges that the Bill should be kept in the back-burner for now.
8. The CHRAN notes that this Bill is very provocative and capable of inciting the masses against the government of Akwa Ibom State under His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, Governor of Akwa Ibom State. The CHRAN observes that this Bill is not only anti-people, obnoxious, monstrous but draconian in its nature. The CHRAN rejects this Bill in its entirety and urges members of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly not to pass this Bill in the overall interest of the State.

Conclusion:
The Center appreciates the Speaker and Members of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly for the invitation to this Public Hearing.

Yours sincerely,

Otuekong Franklyn Isong
Director

A PRESENTATION BY THE DIRECTOR OF CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS & ACCOUNTABILITY NETWORK (CHRAN), OTUEKONG FRANKLYN ISONG, AT THE PUBLIC HEARING ON “A BILL FOR A LAW TO REGULATE THE BUSINESS OF SCRAP METAL DEALERS AND SIMILAR GOODS AND FOR OTHER MATTERS CONNECTED THERETO; A BILL FOR A LAW TO PROVIDE FOR THE MAINSTREAMING OF CLIMATE CHANGE ACTIONS, ESTABLISH THE AKWA IBOM STATE COUNCIL ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND FOR OTHER MATTERS CONNECTED THERETO; AND AKWA IBOM STATE POLYSTYRENE (STYROFOAM) AND OTHER SINGLE USE PLASTICS (PROHIBITION) BILL,” HELD AT LUTON PARK HOTELS, OFF UDO UDOMA AVENUE, UYO, AKWA IBOM STATE, ON MONDAY, 9TH MARCH, 2026.

An Overview of the BILL FOR A LAW TO PROVIDE FOR THE MAINSTREAMING OF CLIMATE CHANGE ACTIONS, ESTABLISH THE AKWA IBOM STATE COUNCIL ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND FOR OTHER MATTERS CONNECTED THERETO.
The Bill has 36 sections and a Schedule. The Bill is divided into 8 functional Parts.

1. The CHRAN notes that Section 4(i) – under the function of the council, a carbon tax is created. The CHRAN suggests that the carbon tax should be restricted to the oil companies flaring gas across the State.
2. The CHRAN urges that private citizens and manufacturing companies operating within the state should be exempted from carbon emissions tax. The CHRAN suggests that manufacturing companies should be encouraged instead to adopt best practices with the encouragement of government through enabling inputs to improve on their effluent and emission practices.
3. The CHRAN is of the view that taxing private citizens or manufacturing companies will cause more hardship on the people of Akwa Ibom State including possible loss of employment opportunities as the companies, for instance, will transfer the cost of manufacturing to their goods and services.
4. The CHRAN notes that the poor masses of Akwa Ibom State are already spending so much on fuel due to lack of electricity, even when they are willing to pay for the supply of electricity. The Center notes that the bill seeks to make the government of Akwa Ibom State to benefit from its inefficiency in the area of electricity power.
5. In section 13(4) – staff of the council, which states, “the Council may also appoint consultants or enter into contracts as it deems necessary for the efficient performance of its functions,” the CHRAN observes that the intended law will further impose unnecessary burden on the lean state resources, by creating a Council whose members will be entitled and eligible to pensions and gratuities whereas, they will be redundant in execution of their functions. The CHRAN suggests that section 13(4) should be deleted so that members of the Council can execute their functions and earn their entitlements rather than appointing consultants or enter into contracts to perform their functions.
6. The CHRAN notes that this is a good piece of legislation that should be supported because it will further the ARISE Agenda of the current administration of His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, Governor of Akwa Ibom State.
7. The CHRAN endorses the bill and urges that the Center’s recommendations should be incorporated into the proposed law.

Conclusion:
This memorandum is an addendum to the memorandum submitted by the CHRAN during the Public Hearing of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly held on Monday, 9th March, 2026.

The Center appreciates the Speaker and Members of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly for the invitation to this Public Hearing.

Yours sincerely,

Otuekong Franklyn Isong
Director