Abia Assembly Passes ABSU Amendment Bill, Moves Against Devastating Erosion, Receives Security Bill

The Abia State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed the Abia State University (Amendment No. 3) Bill, 2026 (H.A.B. 6) into law, paving the way for all satellite campuses of the institution to be relocated to the university’s permanent site at Uturu.

The bill, which scaled its third reading during plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, amends the Abia State University Law No. 5 of 1991 and repeals the 2009 Amendment No. 2 Law, alongside other related provisions.

Lawmakers said the legislation is aimed at consolidating the university’s academic activities at its main campus in Uturu, a move they argued would strengthen institutional administration and give students a greater sense of belonging.

The Assembly also deliberated on a matter of urgent public importance raised by the member representing Bende South State Constituency, Hon. Emmanuel Ndubuisi, over the worsening erosion menace at Amaewu Umueze-Amamba in Uzuakoli, Bende Local Government Area.

Ndubuisi lamented that despite previous interventions and appeals to the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) during the Seventh Assembly, little had been done to arrest the environmental disaster.

He disclosed that the erosion has destroyed several properties, including a two-storey building belonging to a late retired Permanent Secretary in the Abia State Civil Service, leaving the deceased’s widow and children homeless, while many other residents remain under the threat of losing their homes.

The lawmaker urged the House to mandate the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Works and NEWMAP to immediately commence emergency palliative measures to prevent further devastation.

Supporting the motion, the Deputy Speaker and member representing Umuahia East State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Augustine Okezie Nmeregini, called for the invitation of the Project Manager of NEWMAP to explain the agency’s apparent inaction despite the state’s fulfilment of its counterpart funding obligations for erosion control projects.

Similarly, the member representing Ikwuano State Constituency, Hon. Boniface Isienyi, drew the attention of the House to another severe erosion threat affecting Umuopara Aroigwe Noño Oboro and neighbouring communities in Ikwuano Local Government Area.

He warned that residents now live in constant fear as homes, roads and borehole water facilities continue to be destroyed by advancing gully erosion, urging immediate intervention to avert a major humanitarian and environmental disaster.

Ruling on the motions, Speaker Emeruwa referred the matters to the House Committees on Environment and Works, directing them to liaise with the relevant ministries and agencies to ensure prompt intervention. He reiterated the commitment of the Abia State Government to tackling erosion across the state.

Earlier during plenary, the Speaker briefed lawmakers on the Assembly’s engagement with the Abia State Commissioner of Police over the murder case discussed during the previous sitting.

According to him, the Commissioner informed members during an executive session that investigations were progressing steadily and assured the Assembly that the police would soon conclude the investigation.

Meanwhile, the House also received for first reading H.A.B. 8, the Abia State Intelligence Gathering and Security Enhancement Programme (ABSIEGSEP) Bill, 2026, sponsored by the member representing Bende North State Constituency, Hon. Nnamdi Chimdi Ibekwe.

The proposed legislation seeks to establish the Abia State Intelligence Gathering and Security Enhancement Programme to strengthen intelligence gathering and improve security coordination across the state.

Also during the sitting, the Assembly received the report of the Joint House Committees on Environment and Works on the deplorable erosion sites at Obunta, Obukwu and other autonomous communities in Ikwuano State Constituency.

The report was presented by the Chairman of the House Committee on Environment and member representing Ohafia South State Constituency, Hon. Mba Nwoke Kalu.

The House adjourned plenary session to reconvene tomorrow Wednesday July 08, 2026.