The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday stepped down a motion seeking urgent federal intervention to address worsening ecological degradation in Edo Central Senatorial District following the absence of its sponsor, Senator Joseph Ikpea.
As plenary proceedings entered their second legislative day in 2026, the motion titled “Urgent Need for Immediate Federal Intervention to Address Escalating Ecological Degradation across Esan Land in Edo Central Senatorial District” could not be presented on the floor of the Senate.
The setback occurred because Senator Ikpea, who represents Edo Central and was listed as the proposer, was not present in the chamber to formally move the motion, in line with Senate rules and procedure.
At the resumed sitting on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, the motion was called by the Senate Majority Leader.
However, with Senator Ikpea absent, the Majority Leader sought the leave of the chamber to defer consideration of the matter.
“Mr President, permit me to move that this motion be deferred to our next legislative day, since the proposed mover of the motion is not present,” the Senate Leader said.
The request was unanimously agreed to by lawmakers, and the motion was accordingly stepped down.
Checks on the Senate’s Order Paper revealed that the motion seeks to mandate the Ecological Fund Office, the Federal Ministry of Environment, and the Nigerian Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) to urgently carry out on-the-spot assessments and commence immediate intervention works at critical erosion and degradation sites across Esan land.
Had it been moved, the motion would have marked the second time the issue of ecological degradation and gully erosion in Edo Central was brought before the National Assembly, following a similar motion sponsored in 2023 by then-Senator Monday Okpebholo, who is now the Governor of Edo State.