A bill for a law to prohibit touting and related matters in all sectors has scaled through a third reading and passed into law at the Anambra State House of Assembly.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Somtochukwu Udeze, had led the proceedings of the plenary.
The Majority Leader and the member representing the Ekwusigo constituency, Ikenna Ofodeme, who sponsored the bill, had moved a motion for the third reading and passage.
Thereafter, it was seconded by the Minority Leader, Johnbosco Akaebobi, after necessary edits were made at the ‘Committee of the Whole’.
This move is coming days after a viral video circulated on social media where operatives of the State Anti-touts Special Squad were seen brutalising and persecuting Wilfred Ezike with short pestles and other blunt objects over a yet-to-be-disclosed misdemeanour.
Speaking in an interview after the plenary of the state Assembly on Thursday, the sponsor of the bill, Ofodeme had said, “Every day, ndi Anambra are crying out over the menace of touting in the state.
“When you talk and think about touts, a lot of people think that it is just the one at the Onitsha main market but there are corporate touts at the Immigration office,, FRSC and in other organisations and agencies as well.”
Ofedeme had further gone on to describe how this practice has affected Anambra State the most and why the State has not been able to raise its IGR.
“This is what triggered the introduction of this bill. We are trying to tie-up all the loopholes because the touts have advanced to criminals.
“The Anambra State Anti-Touts Special Squad is the only way we can be able to raise IGR. It is also another way to easily get most of these criminals apprehended and hand them over to appropriate agencies.” Ofodeme concluded.
After the business of the day, the house, finally, adjourned till Thursday, April 11, 2024.
