Some affected communities in Imo State Nigeria have condemned prevailing illegal mining and dredging of sand business across several communities in the state. The mining cum dredging of sand and gravel are done across streams in the rural communities without due compensation and approved memorandum of agreement MOU with the villages and communities.
Investigation reveals that the dredging activities increased since the inception of the shared prosperity administration ably led by His excellency governor hope Uzodinma.
And the commission saddled with this responsibility to check excessive illegal sand mining seems not being effective and sensitive of unnecessary shady deals going on with the dredgers and tipper loaders in the affected communities.
Few years ahead, from the date of this publication by 9News Nigeria, many communities will likely be cut-off by drastic erosion emanating from illegal mining and dredging of sand at various river sides in Imo state.
Research experts and mining consultant interviewed by 9News Nigeria have condemned illegal mining and dredging of sand from unapproved locations across the state following its disaster prone and sudden upsurge of collapse.
The disaster caused by uncontrollable dredging and mining of sand can easily erode an entire community, village, farmland, business area and in extension, some local government area will be easily cut-off by mining disaster and unapproved dredging from streams and rivers as 9999
It is the responsibility of the state government through relevant agencies to stop forthwith all illegal sand dredgers and to withdraw their activities from Imo streams and rivers.
Such moves was taken by former government under Governor Emeka Ihedioha to safe the state from dreading disaster and communal extinction.
For instance, at Nworie River, dredging machines and tippers were stopped by state order following several reports from affected residents, landlords living within the riversides where sand business was going on.
Owerri municipality was nearly cut-off from New Owerri axis because of illegal mining and dredging of sand at Nworie river until same Ex- Governor Ihedioha saved the situation by using immediate force on them. New Owerri axis could have gone before now, if such check was not taken.
Nekede old road axis was once cut-off by same erosion caused by sand dredging and illegal mining of sand that was going on nworie river via Nekede streams untill government stopped the business and restricted tipper loaders and dredgers from further business in the area.
Recently, from number 12 Bus stop in same Nekede community down to Okwu -Umudoche – Police Training School Umuoma axis is at a state of near collapse because of constant mining of sand going on even at press time this Sunday night.
Umudoche bridge collapsed several times because of continuous mining activities in the community and the leadership contributed money and through self efforts rendered palliative cum remedial measure to construct their roads.
Towards Ihiagwa community is highly proned and seriously attacked by this same uncontrollable mining activities going on in the area. Nekede Federal Polytechnic uzomiri axis have also collapsed leaving many houses and properties in the area at danger points because of constant mining of sand from the river.
Extensively ravaged is Owerri west where this rivers are being attacked by sand minners , one could hardly count the benefit it has added to the IGR of Imo state and the development of the host villages.
Imo people are therefore calling on the State Commissioner for Land Resources and Mining to rise up to his official responsibility to stop illegal mining of sand prevalent in Owerri axis and its neighboring communities in Imo state Nigeria.
The shock of it all is that, several levies and attached to this business without proper remittances to the State government. The roads to the streams in these communities such dreading is ongoing are hardly maintained by these guys that have these dredging machines.
Our News correspondents authoritatively reports that the roads in the affected communities are impassable because of the devastating danger sand mining has caused imo communities.
A tour to the communities mentioned in this news and more will shock the government on certain height of shady businesses going on in the state to impoverish the mases retard affected villages and communities in Imo.
This message was well investigated while demanding for immediate action from government to check and stamp-down sand mining / dredging activities across Imo rivers.
-Princely Onyenwe reports
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