The Member representing Essien Udim State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Prince Ukpong Akpabio II, KSJI, has commenced the 2026 legislative year with a motion calling for a public–private partnership to establish a recycling plant in the state.
The motion, anchored on the Waste-to-Wealth business model, highlighted the growing volume of commercial and domestic waste generated daily across Akwa Ibom State. Prince Akpabio noted that much of the waste is currently disposed of in landfills, while a significant portion ends up in gutters and drainage channels, contributing to environmental degradation and increased flooding.
Presenting the motion, the lawmaker stressed that effective waste management is critical to safeguarding public health and protecting the environment. He argued that recycling offers significant advantages over landfill disposal, which has been linked to greenhouse gas emissions, soil and water contamination, and the release of toxic substances that threaten nearby communities.
Prince Akpabio further cited the economic potential of recycling, noting that Nigeria’s recycling industry is estimated to be worth over $2 billion, according to a Punch newspaper report published on January 30, 2023. He observed that Akwa Ibom State is already experiencing the financial attraction of recycling activities, as scavengers regularly collect plastic bottles, cartons, scrap metal, and other recyclable materials for shipment to recycling plants in other states.
He maintained that establishing recycling plants within Akwa Ibom State would reduce environmental and health risks associated with landfills, stimulate economic growth through revenue generation, and create employment opportunities across the recycling value chain, in alignment with the Governor’s ARISE Agenda.
The motion was seconded by the Member representing Nsit Ibom State Constituency, Eric Akpan, and received the support of lawmakers from Esit Eket, Ikot Ekpene/Obot Akara, Okobo, Mbo, Uruan, and Ini State Constituencies. The House resolved that its decision be formally communicated to the State Governor for further action.
Meanwhile, during the same plenary session, Prince Akpabio’s bill seeking to prohibit forceful and illegal occupation of landed property in Akwa Ibom State passed First Reading. The bill, co-sponsored by ten other lawmakers, aims to curb violent, fraudulent, and unlawful practices associated with land ownership and occupation.
If passed into law, the proposed legislation would criminalize unlawful entry, occupation, or takeover of landed property, as well as acts inconsistent with the rights of lawful title holders. Offenders would face a minimum of one year imprisonment, a fine of not less than one million naira, or both upon conviction.
The bill also seeks to prohibit related offences, including violent entry, illegal occupation, misuse of law enforcement agents, armed encroachment, unauthorized sale of property, and the submission of false petitions.