The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has directed the Ministry of Transport to immediately commence and sustain a comprehensive review of existing operational guidelines regulating dispatch riding services in the State, with a specific focus on identifying and sanctioning unregistered operators.
The resolution was adopted during plenary on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, following the consideration of a motion titled “The Need to Comprehensively Enforce Industry Regulations and Guidelines on Unregistered Dispatch Riders in Akwa Ibom State,” sponsored by the Member representing Essien Udim State Constituency, Barr. Ukpong Akpabio.
The House further mandated its Committee on Works and Transport to ensure strict compliance with the resolution.
In his motion, Akpabio emphasized the urgent need for stricter enforcement of regulations governing dispatch riding operations, citing growing security concerns, revenue leakages, and unfair competition arising from the activities of unregistered operators.
In a related development, the Assembly directed the Ministry of Justice to initiate the necessary processes with the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the President of the Court of Appeal for the establishment of a Court of Appeal Division in Akwa Ibom State.
The House also urged the provision of the requisite infrastructure and enabling environment needed to facilitate approval for the proposed appellate court division.
The resolution followed a motion sponsored by the Member representing Oruk Anam State Constituency and Chief Whip of the House, Hon. Sampson Idiong, on the need to establish a Court of Appeal Division in the State.
To advance the initiative, the House mandated its Committee on Judiciary, Justice, Human Rights and Public Petitions to communicate the resolution to the Akwa Ibom State Caucus in the National Assembly for further legislative engagement and support.
The House also considered a motion on the urgent need to strengthen collaboration among Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), consultants, and the Akwa Ibom State Government Monitoring Committee to ensure timely and quality project delivery. The motion was sponsored by the Member representing Mkpat Enin State Constituency, Hon. Uwem Imoh-Ita.
Consequently, the lawmakers urged the State Executive Council to direct all MDAs to adopt a unified inter-agency coordination framework for capital projects to ensure seamless alignment in project planning, execution, supervision, monitoring, and evaluation.
The Assembly further called on the Government Monitoring Committee to deepen engagement with MDAs and consultants through regular joint inspections, harmonized reporting systems, and structured project review mechanisms aimed at enhancing efficiency, accountability, and quality assurance.
On environmental concerns, the Assembly has called on the State Government, through the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources, to immediately declare a state of environmental emergency on the gully erosion sites threatening Oron Urban, particularly around Iquita Lane and the Oron Road axis opposite Access Bank/Azikiwe Street.
The House also urged the immediate mobilization of civil engineering contractors to undertake emergency shoreline stabilization, drainage channelization, and structural remediation works to halt the rapid expansion of the erosion ravines.
The resolution stemmed from a motion on the urgent need for remediation and disaster intervention at gully erosion sites in Oron Local Government Area, sponsored by the Member representing Oron/Udung Uko State Constituency, Hon. Kenim Onofok.
Furthermore, the Assembly called on the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to urgently provide relief materials and implement temporary relocation measures for affected families and communities at risk.
The House also urged the State Government to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Ecological Project Office (EPO) to secure funding and implement long-term engineering solutions aimed at permanently reclaiming and protecting Oron’s vulnerable coastal terrain.
To facilitate prompt legislative intervention, the Committee on Environment and Mineral Resources was directed to immediately conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the affected erosion sites and submit actionable recommendations to the House, including proposals for funding.
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong, who presided over the plenary, directed the Clerk of the House, Mrs. NsikakAbasi Orok, to communicate all resolutions of the Assembly to the relevant authorities for immediate implementation and necessary action.