By Egbuna Mojekwu, Onitsha.
The traditional ruler of Mkpunando Aguleri Otu in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State, Igwe Johnson Mbanefo has listed challenges posed by destructive activities of sand miners along the bank of Agbanabo Ezu na Omambala River enroute the Odene Aguleri to Orient Petroleum Resources Plc road.
Igwe Mbanefo also observed that the road if affected by the negative activities of sand miners would cut off disconnect links among the four communities of Mkpunando Aguleri Otu, Ezi Aguleri Otu, Aguleri Otu and Enugu Aguleri Otu road.
He listed the hazards of mining activities including health risks, site collapse or traps, chemical exposures, dust inhalation, lifting and logging of heavy loads and inadequate technology.
The rest challenges, according to him, are existence of mining puts, threat to lives of the citizens, abandoned waste dumps, reduction in agricultural productivity, use of illegal Kermit’s, mining in protected areas, exploration of workers, labour exploitation, community displacement, economic risks, lack of political will, vandalism, theft, exposure to harmful substances, security threat, health and safety risks.
Igwe Mbanefo contended that effective and well regulated mining activities would address issues of land degradation, deforestation, air and water pollution, inadequate infrastructure for extraction, processing and transportation of sand, inadequate funding and inadequate skilled manpower.
While calling on President Bola Tinubu and Governor Charles Soludo to Intervene and rescue the people, he warned that, if nothing urgent is done to stop the unabated dredging of sand by artisanry miners and settlers that it would cause untold hardship and degradation.
The monarch explained that there’s need for community engagement and conduct of environmental impact assessment to ascertain the feasibility and viability of the planned project.
The monarch who is the Deputy Chairman of Anambra North Senatorial zone explained that as a stakeholder, he was not sure that environmental impact assessment has been conducted in the affected area, expressing fear of project disruption in future.
He bemoaned the level of dilapidation on the road infrastructure on account of the unwholesome activities of the sand miners.
Igwe Mbanefo observed that Aguleri has a rich history in Igbo origin and cautions that exploration and development of mining sites and mining activities in the area should be sensitive as to protect cultural, social, economic, environmental objects concerns.
He, therefore, expressed the need for community engagement, economic development and industrial growth in the State and federation.
Traditional Rulers Council noted: “The road side is collapsing and the edge is shrinking. it was the former Governor Willie Obiano who constructed the road for the first time since the time of Adam.
“The incumbent Governor, Soludo (Odenigbo Aguleri) is investing heavily on the road infrastructure.”
He revealed that three years ago, there was a committee that was inaugurated to carry out the guidelines including provision of 100 metres distance between the road and the river bank, lamenting the gap is even about 40 percent apart between the river and Odene Aguleri road.
Igwe Mbanefo described the guidelines as scam and deceitful to the member of the public because as the environmental impact assessment was supposed to have been done before now.
He insisted that professionals and experts who are not gullible and ready to compromise government officials should be engaged to carry out the environmental impact assessment.
