The bills signed are the Enugu State Ranch Management Law, to stem the tide of open grazing and attract both local and foreign investment in the livestock industry; the Enugu State Sports Development Fund Law, to reposition the sports sector as a major source of economic growth; the Enugu State Properties Protection Law, to checkmate the activities of land grabbers; and the Enugu State Environmental, and Climate Protection Law.
Mbah said the laws would eradicate the days of land-grabbing, and open grazing, noting that sanctions on offer orders would not be negotiated.
He said, “The Enugu State Properties Protection Law is in line with our promise to enhance the ease of doing business in Enugu State.
“People, who come to Enugu State to invest in property, must do so in sure knowledge that the title document that is issued to them is worth much more than the paper that it is written on.
“That is why we frown at land grabbers; people who go out there to grab land even when they do not have any title to that land. Essentially, this law is designed to penalise such acts.
“This is a big warning to those people who engage in going to empty plots of land to grab them. Under the new law, there are severe and strict punishments that await people who get themselves involved in such acts.”
Mbah noted that the misunderstanding that has plagued the Ranch Management Agency Law over the years would be addressed as people were now expected to rear cows in a civilised manner.
According to him, “This law, I believe, has been misunderstood and misinterpreted. We had sometimes been accused of surreptitiously trying to introduce something beyond just ranching. However, we have to put an end to the idea of having cattle graze openly and then creating friction between our farmers and herders. Our objective here is to ensure that it ends.
“In the 21st Century, there is no reason why we should encourage the open grazing of cattle. So, this law is essentially designed to ensure that people act in a civilised manner. We are going to ensure that we have enough services, create an abattoir and proper cattle market, not where people will come and live.”
Further detailing the Environmental and Climate Protection Law, Mbah said, “Again, we understand the importance of just going beyond mere lip service in protecting our environment. What we have done is to set out clear policies and plans for us to protect our environment. We all know the danger that the depletion of the ozone layer poses to us as a people.”
Subsequently, he assured that the Enugu State Sports Development Fund Law would assist the state to “build capacity, nurture talents from the grassroots, encourage school sports, and essentially develop our sports sector.“
He commended the State Assembly for expeditiously passing the various executive bills initiated by his administration, saying such partnership was the beauty of democracy.
The event was witnessed by the Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon Uchenna Ugwu and the Clerk of the State Assembly, Dr Emma Udaya amongst other state government officials.