Assessing the level of degradation on the environment by illegal miners as well as enforcing the state order to seal up all illegal mining sites, the Enugu State Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Prof. Sam Ugwu, laments the extensive ecological disaster caused by the miners to her citizens and environment.
“The illegal deforestation, diversion of water bodies and degradation of hundreds of hectares of land by the miners could trigger ecological disaster if nothing is done to prevent further unregulated mining activities in the state,” Prof. Ugwu said.
Prof. Ugwu who is also the Chairman of the Committee on Review of Mining Activities in Enugu State further stated that monitoring and enforcement of the sealing order will be continuous until all the illegal mining sites in Enugu State is closed.
The sites visited by the Commissioner and her team were in Nsude and Akwuke communities in Udi and Enugu South Local Government Areas, respectively.
“It is unfortunate that this kind of damage is going on in Enugu State without the approval of the Enugu State Government. The government is not happy about it, and we will continue this way till we close all the mining sites in Enugu State; We will be monitoring them morning and evening and ensure the places we have sealed are not tampered.”
Prof. Ugwu, however revealed that miners with license has been issued a letter of invitation to visit the State Government for verification; they are to present their license, approvals and other evidence of compliance with the standard practice.
He further called on genuine investors who are willing to invest in the energy and minerals sector of the economy to approach the state through the laid down process.
Meanwhile, Engr. Raphael Edeh, a soil and environment impact assessor warns that the state may experience landslides and earthquake if no proactive measure is taken urgently.
Edeh then calls on the government to go after the culprits destroying the state and the insiders colluding with them;
“The environments in certain communities are presently contaminated such that farming activities and water are no longer safe as the miners have already destroyed their sources,” Edeh said.
Heavy-duty trucks, excavators, caterpillars, coal-loaded trailers, and other machineries were seen at the illegal mining sites at Nsude and Akwuke communities.
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