The Enugu State Government has initiated the process of closing down illegal mining sites and those lacking proper environmental impact certifications and mitigation plans.
Following a direct assessment of a mining site in Awhum, situated in the Udi Local Government Area of the state, the Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Prof. Sam Ugwu, expressed the government’s commitment to preventing environmental degradation and safeguarding lives.
He cautioned that any company found reopening and resuming operations without government approval would face arrest and prosecution in the state’s Environmental Protection Court.
The Commissioner said, “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.”
