The Ministry of Solid Mineral Development Abuja in conjunction with Imo State Government through relevant agencies have sealed all dredging activities in Otamiri Umudoche.
Otamiri Umudoche is located in Umudoche community in Umuoma Nekede, Owerri West local government area of Imo State Nigeria.
The closure took effect Wednesday afternoon December 10, 2025 through the office of the Federal Mines Officer FMO Imo state, Engr Mobolaji in company of the NSCDC, relevant stakeholders and community leaders in the area.
The shutdown also affected all dump loaders and Tipper operators in the area are warned to seize operation and stay off sites while construction work is expected to commence on the community roads that were seriously devastated as a result of incessant mining activities in Umudoche Umuoma Nekede.
Our correspondent reports that total compliance and orderliness have returned to Umudoche land while dredging sites have remained sealed at the time of filling this report pending further notice.
Tipper operators who spoke to newsmen at the scene of shutdown expressed happiness for the efforts invested by Umudoche Joint Council of Elders led by Pa Boniface Obiyor, Chairman and some notable stakeholders in the area for the successful closure of mining activities in Umudoche Nekede.
Speaking with newsmen, some Tipper operators Messers Ekerie , Uba, Solid, Pounds and Dollars applauded the moves and decision taken by the Elders of Umudoche community to embark on the shutdown of mining activities pending the completion of road work and engaging possible dialogue with between the community and licenced dredging firms.
Accordingly, “We loaders are not happy because of the laxity and insensitivity of dredging firms which has led to the abandonment of all the roads leading to the mining dumps.
“Our tippers visit mechanic workshops on regular basis because of bad condition of roads leading to the dredging dumps and when we talk to the dredger’s Union concerning road rehabilitation and maintenance, they’ll remain recalcitrant and ignorant over it.
“Dredgers have placed high cost on the prices of sand against the prices in other dredging sites within the neighborhood and we are not happy over this harsh condition.
“Sand is sold at N10K and Umudoche dumps sale at 15K while red Laterite sold at 15K and they’ll sale at 25K to Tipper operators. Because of the high price tag , Tipper operators now sale between 70-85 thousand naira per trip of sand and Laterite respectively.
Some aggrieved operators told newsmen that “some individuals in the community have also infested hardship and dis-governance by placing certain compulsory tasks and levies on every dump in the area”.
“We pay compensation to the Youth and community Chairmen, some political office holders and huge royalty to respected traditional leaders in the area and such payments also accrued to the challenges we have incurred against the maintenance of the roads leading to dredging sites”.
Council of Elders Umudoche reassured the shutdown of dredging sites in Ama MMIRI Umudoche is a commendable step to the progress and development of the area as captured by the press.
On interview with our correspondent, residents and business owners in Umudoche have expressed huge sigh of relief by the shutdown of sand mining operations and pleaded for possible moves to work on Umudoche roads leading to the Otamiri river ways to save the land.
Evidently, good roads will definitely create developmental strides and progress further mining activities. It will also improve residential settlement and attract tourism in the rural community. Therefore, serious effort is expected to be in place to sustain quality leadership and administrative competence in the area.
Reliable sources revealed that cruel leadership in the community, administrative rascality, incompetent representation, gangsterism, drug addiction, criminality, corruption, human rights abuse, hate and greed are possible factors affecting progress in the area. The above similar factors have also affected the control of illegal mining in the neighborhood.
A representative of tipper/dredger’s Union, Mr Okechukwu Godwin, told newsmen that , the union has automatically complied with the official closure of dredging sites in Umudoche while adding that indigenous operators will help to mobilize support for the commencement of the construction of roads leading to the MMIRI Umudoche.
Okechukwu Godwin denied the allegation that he was propagating disruption of maintenance of road and shutdown of mining. He further called for cordial relationship between the miners, tipper loaders, operators and the community.
Speaking further, the Chairman of committee on mines and Environmental Matters Imo State and a consultant to ministry of Mines cum solid Mineral Development Hon Mgbeosuru told the miners and Tipper operators to keep to the orders of government as effected by the FMO.
Mgbeosuru warned that action will be taken against any Tipper operator or dredging dump found flaunting the shutdown order in Umudoche Nekede.
The Chairman of Youth Chairmen in Umuoma Nekede and a certified licensed miner operating in Otamiri Umudoche, Mr Ugochukwu Onyeukwu complied with the orders of government and accepted the closer of site pending when operation will resume, if need be.
Also known and addressed as “Agama”, Ugochukwu Onyeukwu pleaded with the union to stay calm while possible negotiations last. He added that, the maintenance of all the roads leading to the dredging sites is a non-negotiable deal while thanking Umudoche Joint Council of Elders and the public relation officer for their relentless efforts to actualizing the shutdown.
The traditional ruler of Umuoma Nekede Autonomous community, HRH Eze Morrison SJ Eke -Ph.D had earlier called for a closure of dredging activities in the area and further sent an open letter to His Excellency Governor Hope Uzodinma CON for urgent action.
Eze Omadike noted with dismay the persistent dredging activities going on in Otamiri River in Umuoma Nekede and how the entire community is being ravaged by flood.
In his prayer, Eze Omadike stated the following, ” We passionately plead with the Executive Governor to order a final stop to all dredging activities in this affected neighborhood. We request you, Sir, to give a stern warning through the appropriate government agencies in this regard. The worst hit area is the Umudoche upland dredging activities and the numerous number of Tippers that engage in this practice. Engaging them in a fight may lead to bloodshed and breach of peace in our community hence I plead for quick intervention on this matter. If nothing is done urgently to redress this environmental damage we may not have a place to call our home”
This 🆘 (Save Our Souls) letter in dire need of the attention of our amiable Governor Hope Uzodinma was approved with immediate necessary action.
Recall that Joint Council of Elders Umudoche Umuoma Nekede have issued several public announcements through relevant radio stations and newspapers houses to effect the shutdown of dredging activities bedevilling Umudoche land. The public relation to this effect was well managed and generally adored.
Besides, several petitions and letters were dished out to relevant offices accordingly and all the offices consulted gave a resounding approval to shutdown mining sites because of the impact assessment conducted which proved on devastating menace, malicious damage, environmental degradation, possible collapse of residential houses and water/soil pollution in Umudoche.
Note: There is an establishment of a mining àct of 2007 and mining regulations 2011 which section 159 of the mining regulation states that, “before any commencement of dredging and mining activities, an environmental impact assessment (E.I.A) and Environmental Audit report (E.A.R) will be conducted before the commencement of operation. The mining àct also specified that dredging cum mining activities will stay away from by 150 metres from building, express way , high tension, electric poles etc”.
The above note was referenced in the official letter delivered to The Honourable Minister, Ministry of Solid Mineral Development Abuja, by the Public Relations department of the Elders-in Council Umudoche.
Of a fact, In the quest to seeking justice to secure the fundamental right of preservation of ancestral heritage and to salvage the Umudoche community land, some offices reached included: The Honourable Minister, Ministry of Solid Mineral Development Abuja, Hon Commissioner, Ministry of Industry, Mines and Solid Minerals Imo State, Federal Mines officer, Federal Secretariat Owerri, Environment ministry, Commissioner of Police CP Aboki Danjuma, Area Commander, The Imo State Police command fire service Owerri, The Commandant, NSCDC, DPO Umuoma Nekede police division, Owerri West LGA council, Committee on Mines and Environmental Matters and etc.
The special assistant to Governor Uzodinma on religious matters, Hon (Mrs) Treasure Ahanonu was also consulted in this course and she played critical roles in resolving lingering crisis. Her intervention was aimed at restoring peace and order among the leadership and also to save ala MMIRI Umudoche, even while on her sick bed, was highly commendable and appreciated
At the time of filling this report, the shutdown order remains while deliberations last. The construction of Umudoche road leading to the river ways cannot be neglected as Ndi Umudoche hinted.
