Enugu Begins Sealing of Illegal Mining Sites

Gideon Arinze in Enugu

The Enugu State Government has commenced sealing illegal mining sites and sites without environmental impact certifications and mitigation plans as part of efforts to check the activities of miners in the state.
Recall that the Governor Peter Mbah administration had in June banned illegal mining activities in the state and also set up the Enugu State Committee on Mining Activities to checkmate the menace.
During a visit to one of the mining sites in Awhum, Udi Local Government Area, owned by Milhouse Energy Services Ltd, the Committee, led by its Chairman and Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Prof. Sam Ugwu, said the government would not fold its hands and watch the environment destroyed and lives engendered.
He noted that various infringements ranging from environmental degradation to blasting without approval and due regulations, non-remittance of staff tax to the state government despite deducting same from the staff as well as non-remittance of pension contributions to the pension scheme despite deducting same from the staff, among others were observed.
“Our mission is basically to seal, on behalf of the state government, mining activities that do not have any recourse to the state government,” he said. “We are also here to look at what is going on and you have all seen a lot of environmental degradation going on,”.

Speaking further, he said “We also want to find out the mitigating plans they have in place. We are very much interested in what happens to these host communities and their environs many years after these miners have closed shop because if you take a look at the Niger Delta, the people are still suffering greatly from environmental degradation caused by oil exploration activities of many decades ago,”.
He noted that Enugu powered the industries of Europe and beyond at some point through this same coal and till today, the environment is still bearing the scars and brunt of those mining activities.
He said the government was very much aware of other mining sites in different parts of the state operating illegally and without license or running foul of environmental protection laws and regulations, assuring that “government is coming after all of them”.
The Committee also served a notice on African Pits and Quarries Ltd to stop operations immediately and report to the Government House on Thursday.
“Sequel to the directive of the Governor of Enugu State banning illegal mining activities in the state, you are hereby warned to desist and stop all mining activities in this environment,”. “Your failure to comply strictly as directed above may lead to your arrest and prosecution in the state Environmental Protection Court,”.