The Imo State Government has imposed an immediate and total ban on all forms of mining and dredging activities within the Owerri Capital Territory.
The decision was announced by the Commissioner for Industry, Mines and Solid Minerals, Ernest Ibejiako, during a meeting with stakeholders in the mining and dredging sector held in Owerri.
He said the decision followed years of unregulated mining that had resulted in devastating floods, soil erosion, and the collapse of critical infrastructure across the city.
“Enough is enough, the government and good people of Imo State can no longer fold their arms and watch the indiscriminate devastation of our capital territory.
“No responsible government will sit back and allow her environment to be degraded to the point of collapse, ”Ibejiako said.
Ibejiako lamented that despite earlier bans in 2017 and 2019, illegal dredging and sand mining persisted, causing severe environmental degradation.
“The Owerri River, which once had a narrow stretch, has now been dangerously widened to oceanic proportions through uncontrolled dredging,” he said.
The commissioner highlighted the dire consequences of uncontrolled mining, including destruction of bridges and road networks among others.
Ibejiako reaffirmed the Uzodinma administration’s commitment to sustainable development and environmental preservation.
He stressed that the state would only support responsible mining activities outside the capital territory, in full compliance with Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), Environmental Management Plans (EMP), and Community Development Agreements (CDA).
The government warned defaulters that they would face prosecution and strict penalties for non-compliance.
“We will no longer, in the name of legality or federal licensing, sacrifice the environmental safety and survival of Owerri Capital Territory. “Let us save Owerri now, or risk losing her forever,” he said.
