Communities in Imo State have charged the state commissioner for mining and natural resources to rise up and shutdown all illegal sand mining sites across streams and rivers in the state for the reason of looming devastation and erosion menace
This call came as a pressing demand by Leaders of autonomous communities in the state who trooped out en masse and presented their grievances to Newmen in Owerri on Wednesday.
However, several communities in Imo State Nigeria have been marked to go in extinction or be cut-off from the state grid following illegal sand dredging activities going on in several streams in the state.
Communities like Ihiagwa, Nekede, Obinze, Owerri and its environs are seriously affected by the adverse effects of illegal mining and dredging of sands on regular basis.
When contacted, majority of these dredgers accused government of running shady deals and backdoor transactions with dredgers in the state.
Also alleged in this shady deals was the ministry of mining and natural resources in whose jurisdiction falls the monitoring and approval of all the miners and sand dredgers in Imo state.
9News Nigeria authoritatively reports the persistent adverse effects of this illegal sand mining activities going on in several Imo communities as disastrous and an abuse of natural habitation of both marine animals, farmers in the area and affected communities whose roads were destroyed and about to cut-off from state grid.
In some communities visited, many families claimed the ownership of the river lands and vowed against its management by government. Some other communities are crying profusely on the damaged condition of farms lands and public roads within the dredging communities.
Community leaders who spoke with Newsmen across dredging sites visited this Wednesday decried the over zealousness of sand dredgers and tipper drivers in the area.
Communities have alleged these Mining operators of neglecting some civil obligations and contributions to maintain these roads where they shuttle for daily businesses and had remained adamant of the huge damages attracted to the farmers and the people of the communities.
The leaders took Newsmen round the sites where the illegal mining activities are going on and called on the state government to stop such a business.
Accordingly, ” mining of sands and gravels in community streams have caused more damage than developing their area. The people are pleading with the Hope Uzodinma’s administration to stop further sand dredging activities across community streams and rivers.
Professional researchers said , “Imo communities will soon be cut-off from natural habitation , intra state communication and business grids because of illegal and unapproved dredging and mining of sand activities and its shady deals going viral at many dredging locations.
Our reporters delved into investigation to unravel looming dangers emanating from unauthorized sand mining and illegal dredging activities going on in Imo communities as looming disaster that will hit the state uncontrollably.
The 3R shared prosperity administration led by a listening Governor Hope Uzodinma can sanction further mining activities going on in all the communities henceforth.
Government is by this notice called for immediate intervention to stop unauthorized sand and gravel miners from further shady business in all Imo communities.
Groups of concerned leaders at various affected communities have called on the state mining ministry through the commissioner and its affiliate agencies to save the people from devastating effects bedeviling unauthorized mining and sand dredging activities.
Speaking further with newsmen at various river dredging and mining sites visited , owners of dredging machines and many tipper drivers have also expressed bitterness against the increase of state government interests in sand and gravel mining business.
The groups have called for proper certification of operators and regulation of mining activities to check undue bastardization and devastating effects such activities have caused to the state.
Accordingly, ” The disaster is too much because there is no control of operation and because of the free-to-air business opportunity on sand dredging and tipper business in Imo, many people have joined the deal to rub our daily earnings in the name of government IGR.
“The dangers accrued to sand mining in communities are much on any environment and the area of mining is no doubt in danger.
“And again Sir, News Editor, if we negotiate with communities to bring in our dredging machines and equipments for business and settle them on bulk pay pending our negotiation with the families that claimed ownership of the river land, then the accrued disaster have to be contained and shared by both parties.
“It is unfortunate that mining will still continue even though government stops it because sand and gravel are everyday necessities for building and we make good money from the business too.
When asked, the next line of action if sand mining and dredging is stopped across communities by government, “We will locate another areas and continue with the business. Such stoppage will also automatically increase the price of products, dredgers hinted.
However, government powers expresses itself in legislation, administration and judicial decision and it is of prime importance to the theory of the organization of government to determine immediately intervention to control sand/gravel dredging cum mining activities in Imo communities.
Community leaders have earlier alleged that the red type of sand is being excavated carelessly in various bushes and forests without due consultation and approval of government.
