Governor Okowa Signs Bill To Stop ‘Deve’ Collection Into Law In Delta

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state has signed into law a bill to outlaw illegal and forceful entry into development sites in the state.

With this bill, the era of extortion of properties developers popularly known as ‘collection of deve’ by local youths would be coming to an end with the enforcement  of the Delta State Public and Private Properties Protection Bill 2018.

The bill which was an executive bill was signed into law on Friday, by Governor  Okowa, flanked by the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Clerk of the Assembly, Mrs Lyna Ocholor and other principal officers of the House.

Governor Okowa who decried the harassment of property developers in the name of “deve”, said the development had chased away a lot of developers, and therefore expressed confidence that with the signing into law of the bill prohibiting illegal and forceful entry into development sites, the state will witness speedy development.

“We will collaborate with the Delta State House of Assembly to ensure that laws are passed to impact positively on the lives of our people. I am glad that this bill to prohibit the forcefully entry into public and private properties has been passed into law as it will stop youths from trespassing into property development sites in the state and make investment to thrive”, Governor Okowa said, adding, “this prohibition will impact on the lives of our people and bring investment sanity into the state”.

On the DESOPADEC amendment bill, the governor explained that the amendment was meant to ensure that no vacuum was created in the leadership of the Commission as government can now extend the tenure of the Board under given circumstances.

He commended the Speaker and members of the House of Assembly for their cordial relationship with the Executive arm in bringing development to the people and impacting on the lives of Deltans.

Earlier, Rt. Hon, Oborevwori had while presenting the bills for assent, told the Governor that the bills passed through all the processes required for them to be passed, stating that the bills were meant to impact on Deltans, create peace, boost the economy and bring development to the state.