Anambra Mining Reform Committee Sets Conditions For Miners
By Adaobi Nsofor
Following the suspension of mining activities in Anambra State, the Anambra State Mining Reform Committee has held a meeting with the miners in the state to chart a way forward and see how the mining sector would be reformed.
The committee which is headed by Prof. Charles Ononuju Ofoegbu of the Anambra State Solid Minerals Development Company Limited was formed by the state government to oversee the activities of the illegal miners in the state and to ensure that whatever they're doing is in line with the law and the global best practices.
The Special Adviser to the governor on Security, Mr Ben Chiobi who represented the chairman of the committee noted that every mining activities going on in the state should be duly registered, documented, recognised by the state government and given a clearance to operate.
He emphasized that the illicit activities of these miners have rendered the environment and roads increasingly unsafe, leading to devastating environmental degradation.
Mr Chiobi stated that anybody who has not gotten due documentation has no business in mining as there would be strict monitoring to ensure compliance to the policy.
The SA further stated that the Soludo-led administration is determined to scrap out every form of criminal activities going on in the mining sector for a sustainable growth and development in the state.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Mr Anthony Ifeanya ( Esq), stated that Nigeria Minerals and Mining Act 2007 have conditions set out for mining businesses in any locality, and so is expected that any miner be registered, and while there is need for community development agreement between the community and the miners, there should be a scrutinised system of doing mining in the state.
On the other hand, the Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Felix Odimegwu emphasised that the state government did not ban mining in the state as speculated but rather suspension to ensure a compliance level in the system that will not harm the environment and at the same time, not affect their means of livelihood.
He noted that negligence and activities taken on the environment many years ago is what is affecting the environment today.
Dr. Odimegwu warned that the Anambra environment has become an existential threat due to the unchecked excesses of mining activities pervading many communities, particularly in Ogbaru and Oko areas, where underwater erosion poses a catastrophic threat to the very foundations of these communities.
He urged miners to adopt environmentally responsible practices, ensuring their activities do not harm the environment. With over 1000 active erosion sites already threatening more than 160 communities, he cautioned that unchecked mining would lead to catastrophic consequences, undermining the state's revenue generation goals and causing irreparable damage to the ecosystem.
The commissioner further stressed the need for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) where the miners will draw a plan on what they intend to do after mining the site to avoid causing erosions.
One of the miners, Mr Uche Okafor pleaded that they should be recalled back to their site due to economic hardship of the country and be given time to do the necessary documentations and clearance.
* Nsofor is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State *.
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