The Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area, Sir Chidi Lloyd, has presented an executive bill seeking the establishment of a comprehensive residents’ registration, identification and security management system in the local government.
The Emohua Local Government Area Residents Registration, Identification and Security Management Bill 2026 passed first reading at the Legislative Council during plenary on Monday.
Presenting the bill at the council headquarters, Lloyd said the proposed law would strengthen internal security, improve public safety and provide an accurate database of people living and doing business across the local government area.
He said the initiative would help prevent impersonation, identify fraudulent activities and assist security agencies in tackling criminal elements, while promoting peaceful coexistence between indigenes and non-indigenes.
Lloyd said the legislation had become necessary to properly position Emohua ahead of an expected influx of investors and property developers, following what he described as the local government’s emerging status as an investment destination in Rivers State.
According to him, the proposed law would establish an Emohua Residents Registration and Security Management Committee comprising representatives of the executive and legislative arms of the council, security agencies, traditional rulers, religious and community leaders, traders, non-indigenes, women and youth groups.
He said the inclusive structure was designed to ensure effective implementation of the registration and security management process across communities in the local government.
The council chairman also condemned the vandalisation of electrical installations and other public infrastructure, saying the proposed legislation would provide penalties for vandals and other related offences.
The bill was subsequently adopted as a working document and passed first reading.
Reacting, the Leader of the Emohua Legislative Council, Rt. Hon. Love Nyenke, commended Lloyd’s efforts towards strengthening peace and security in the local government and pledged the support of the councillors to his administration.
The development came alongside the inauguration of new leadership structures for the Egbeda Central Community Development Committee and Youth Council.
Lloyd inaugurated the new executives at the council headquarters and charged them to promote peace and unity in Egbeda while working with other community structures and relevant stakeholders.
He warned that the council would take action against individuals or groups undermining government authority, particularly in relation to the state directive concerning the regulation of CDC and youth council activities.
Lloyd congratulated the new Egbeda Central CDC Chairman, Harmony Chukwu Obuah, and Youth President, Confidence Odanwor, alongside members of their executive committees, saying they had undergone profiling by the relevant security agency before their appointments.
He directed the new leadership to commence an aggressive desilting of drainages across Egbeda as part of measures to mitigate flooding in the community.
The chairman also promised that the council would return to Egbeda to flag off new infrastructure projects and complete abandoned or unfinished local government projects in the area.
The inauguration comes against the backdrop of an earlier dispute over the composition of CDC and youth leadership in Egbeda, with some community stakeholders previously accusing the council chairman of imposing new leaders. Lloyd had defended his intervention as necessary following the expiration of the previous leadership structure.
He further urged CDCs in flood-prone communities across Emohua, particularly those located along riverbanks, to regularly desilt drains and open canals to reduce the impact of flooding.
