Headline
Mining: Enugu State Govt. begins sealing of illegal mining sites
Enugu State Government on Monday, said it had begun sealing of illegal mining sites and those without environmental impact certifications and mitigation plans in the state.
Prof. Sam Ugwu, the Chairman, Enugu State Committee on Mining Activities, stated this when the committee visited a site, owned by Milhouse Ltd. in Awhum, Udi Local Government Area.
Gov. Peter Mbah had in June, banned illegal mining in the state and also set up the Enugu State Committee on Mining Activities on Sept. 15 to checkmate the menace.
Addressing newsmen after a firsthand inspection of mining activities at the site, Ugwu who is the state Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, said there were more various infringements ranging from environmental degradation to blasting without approval and due regulations.
According to him, the miners are suspected to be involved in non-remittance of staff tax and pension contributions to the state government in spite of deducting them from the staff.
He said that the government would not fold its hands and watch the environment destroyed and lives endangered.
“Our mission is basically to seal, on behalf of the state government, mining activities that do not have any recourse to the state government.
“We are also here to look at what is going on and you have all seen a lot of environmental degradation going on.
“We equally want to see the veracity of the licence, which they claim they have and to find out how they have been remitting their environmental fees to Enugu State Government.
“Importantly, 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.
He added that, “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.
“Enugu powered the industries of Europe and beyond at some point through this same coal. Today, our environment is still bearing the scars and brunt of those mining activities. So, we will not fold our hands and watch that happen all over again.”
He faulted the claim by the operators of the site that they started mining activities in 2022, saying “from all indications, this site has been in operation for more than five years”.
He stressed that the government was very much aware of other mining sites in different parts of the state operating illegally and without licence or running foul of environmental protection laws and regulations, assuring that government would go after them.
The commissioner also served a notice on African Pits and Quarries Ltd to stop operations immediately and report to the Government House on Sept. 21.
“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 may lead to your arrest and prosecution in the state Environmental Protection Court,” Ugwu said.
He also ordered them as a matter of urgency, to furnish the office with comprehensive list including approval licence from the Nigeria Mining Cadastral Office and evidence of notification letter to Enugu State Ministry of Environment before commencement of operations, among others.
Meanwhile, the General Manager in charge of Operations at the site, Akintola Oluwafemi, while assuring that the company would comply with government directives, said the firm obtained all necessary licences from the Federal Government.
Oluwafemi added that they were mindful of environment in their operations.
The Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN has warned against obstructing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from carrying out its lawful duty .
Fagbemi’s warning is contained in a statement in Abuja.
“This is a matter of very grave concern, it is now beyond doubt that the EFCC is given power by the law to invite any person of interest to interact with them in the course of their investigations into any matter, regardless of status.
“Therefore, the least that we can all do when invited, is not to put any obstruction in the way of EFCC, but to honourably answer their invitation.
“A situation where public officials who are themselves subject of protection by law enforcement agents will set up a stratagem of obstruction to the civil and commendable efforts of the EFCC to perform its duty is to say the least, insufferably disquieting’’.
He added that running away from the law will not resolve issues at stake but only exacerbate them.
“Nigeria has a vibrant judicial system that is capable of protecting everyone who follows the rule of law in seeking protection.
“I therefore encourage anyone who has been invited by the EFCC or any other agency to immediately toe the path of decency and civility by honouring such invitation instead of embarking on a temporising self-help and escapism.
“This can only put our country in bad light before the rest of the world’’.
He said institutions of state should be allowed to function effectively and efficiently.
“I stand for the rule of law and will promptly call EFCC, and indeed any other agency to order when there is an indication of any transgressions of the fundamental rights of any Nigerian by any of the agencies’’.
NAN reports that the EFCC had on Wednesday warned members of the public that it was a criminal offence to obstruct officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties.
Section 38(2)(a(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act makes it an offence to prevent officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties. Culprits risk a jail term of not less than five years.
The warning , the EFCC said, became necessary against the background of the increasing tendency by persons and groups under investigation by the Commission to take the laws into their hands by recruiting thugs to obstruct lawful operations of the EFCC.
On several occasions, the anti graft agency said, operatives of the Commission have had to exercise utmost restraint in the face of such provocation to avoid a breakdown of law and order.
Some unknown gunmen have kidnapped Joshua Rogers, the ChannelsTV reporter in Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Politics Nigeria learnt that Rogers was picked up close to his residence at Rumuosi in Port Harcourt and to an unknown destination by the gunmen around 9pm on Thursday, April 11.
The reporter was driving his official ChannelsTV branded car when the hoodlums accosted, pointed a gun at him and took him away in the same vehicle.
Rogers was said to be returning from his official assignment in Government House after a trip to Andoni for a government event when the incident happened.
Already, the gunmen were said to have contacted his wife and demanded a N30million ransom for bis release.
His cameraman confirmed the incident and appealed to his abductors to set him free unconditionally.
Woman killed while crossing road in Anambra
LASG’s maize palliative impactful, says poultry association chair
Fagbemi warns against obstructing EFCC from performing its lawful duty
BDCs now buying dollar at ₦980 — ABCON President
Osun Poly Student, Olanrewaju Olatona killed by hit-and-run one-way driver
Seplat Energy celebrates a decade of Dual Listing with Bell Ringing Ceremony at Nigerian Stock Exchange
3 teens arrested in Germany for allegedly plotting terror attack
Breaking…Naira abuse: Court sentences Bobrisky to 6 months in custody
Lagos Court Grants Emefiele N50m Bail
