Politics
By Adaobi Nsofor
A delegation from the Nigeria Union of Mines Workers, Anambra State Chapter has said that their objectives in the state is to secure complete unionization of all workers employed in Mining, Quarrying Mineral Processing and Allied products.
The team led by its state Chairman, Mr. Kelvin Onyiah made this known while on a courtesy call on the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Anambra State Solid Minerals Development Company Limited (ANSSMDCL), Prof. Charles Ofoegbu in Awka.
Mr. Onyiah added that the purpose of their visit was also to appraise themselves on the extent of Mining activities going on in the state and to help fish out illegal miners.
He pleaded that the body be carried along in the regulation of mining activities so that its members would not fall victims during the arrest of illegal miners.
Responding, the MD/CEO ANSSMDCL noted that the menace and criminalities associated with mining in the state have been worrisome.
“As the Chairman of Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO) and Mining Reform Committee, my mandate is to see that illegal mining is flushed out from the state bearing in mind that the interest of the Federal Government of Nigeria is protected by the actions we are taking.
Some governors have banned mining activities entirely in their states because of the huge menace it has been causing. As it is, the concern of every governor is to ensure the safety and well-being of the citizens of their state.”
He said that governors must not however act in selfish interests but must see that they acted in the overriding public interest and that it was in the overriding public interest especially in the mining sector of the state that it be cleaned up in order to restore its integrity.
“As a mining guru, I have been in the system for over 30 years and I can tell you categorically that nearly ninety percent of miners in Anambra are illegal.
“The Reform Committee set up by the State Government has the mandate to draw up the criteria precedence for people to go through, get cleared and go back to their mining once approved by Mr. Governor.
“So far, a few miners met the requirements and have been cleared and approved by Mr. Governor while others who submitted themselves for screening have not been approved because there is a crucial and critical component they have not met which is the EIA- (Environmental Impact Assessment).
“It is so because the areas they’re suppose to be mining are the areas where the environment has been so much damaged.
“The governor needs me to discuss with them on how to remedy the damages they have caused before they can continue, and we are on it now.”
Prof. Ofoegbu lamented that mining has caused so much havoc around places like Osomala and Odekpe of Ogbaru LGA noting that the people causing these environmental damages do not do anything for the community in terms of its Coperate Social Responsibility (CSR)
“If you drive from Onitsha to Ogwuikpele to Ndoni, you will see that the bank of River Niger is collapsing. Drive from Awka to Onitsha to Owerri, you will also see what mining of Laterite, which is a major form of mining, has caused.
“If you go through Osomala, you will see some buildings falling into the rivers and this is because of the mining going on there”.
He suggested that a Multi Purpose Mining Coperative Society could be set up so that miners can go and register and become legitimate to mine in a sustainable manner while being supervised by MIREMCO and such Mining Coperatives are provided for in the law and are encouraged.
Photo Caption: The team flanked by Prof. Charles Ofoegbu in his Office at Awka
13th September, 2024.
C.E.
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