TheCable

Sam Ugwu, commissioner for environment and climate change in Enugu, says the government has started sealing off illegal mining sites across the state.

Speaking with journalists after inspecting mining activities in Awhum, Udi LGA, Ugwu said the sites have been operating without licence and mitigation plans.

In June, the government banned all illegal mining operations in the state.

Ugwu said a mining site founded by Milhouse Energy Services Ltd was discovered to have been perpetrating illegalities, ranging from “environmental degradation to blasting without approval and due regulations”.

He listed other irregularities discovered to include “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”.

“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,” the commissioner added.

“We equally want to see the veracity of the license, 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 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.

“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.”

The commissioner said he is aware of other mining sites located in different areas of the state without environmental protection laws and regulations, adding that “the government is coming after all of them”.

He also gave a notice to African Pits and Quarries Ltd to immediately cease all operations and report to the government house on Thursday.