The Enugu State Government has initiated the closure of unauthorized mining sites, including those lacking environmental impact certifications and mitigation plans.
Speaking to reporters following a personal examination of the mining site in Awhum, located in the Udi Local Government Area of the state, Professor Sam Ugwu, the Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, emphasized that the government would not stand idly by while the environment is degraded and lives put at risk.
He cautioned that any company that breaks the seal and resumes operations without government approval will face arrest and prosecution in the state’s Environmental Protection Court.
The Commissioner stated, “We are here basically to look at what is going on here and to seal the place on behalf of the Enugu State government. You have all seen what is going on here, you have seen extensive mining activities going on here with a lot of environmental degradation in the state.
“We want to see the veracity of the licence which they claim they have and we have given them a letter inviting them to a meeting. We also want to find out how the have been remitting environmental fees to the Enugu State Ministry of Environment.”
“We also want to find out the mitigating plans they have. The state government is aware of other mining sites, we know them in different local governments, we know the sites, gradually and we are going to get all of them. Our mission here gives signs to other mining activities that don’t have any recourse to the state government that we are coming to see them.”