Ebonyi State: Afikpo Community Raises the Alarm Over Illegal Mining Activities of Chinese Companies, Calls for Relocation of Quarry Operators As thousands face Respiratory Health Challenges

From Oko OMAKA (Afikpo)

Leading socio-cultural organisation, Afikpo Town Welfare Association (ATWA), has raised the alarm over indiscriminate mining activities of some Chinese companies at various communities in Afikpo North local government area of Ebonyi state.

The Association has also petitioned the Ebonyi State House of Assembly calling for relocation of some of the quarry operators for flagrant disregard for modus operandi in its operations, insisting that blasting and mining areas have been causing respiratory health challenges on the residents.

Afikpo Town of Afikpo local government area of Ebonyi state, which is located on a rocky plateau,is rich in geologic features and solid minerals, has become a toast for miners. It has an abundance of rocks and has been a prime destination for geological studies.

China Solid Rock Nigeria Limited has mining sites at Imama Ozizza in Ozizza community, Afikpo and Edobi Amaosu Amachi of Nde Ugo Onya within Timber Shed Area in Afikpo. It has another mining site at Uzo Ngodo, which the company acquired from Ngodo/Amachi villages in Afikpo Town as well as from some paternal/ maternal families. The company is loacted within the industrial layout in Afikpo, which host the Timber Shade, NYSC Orientation Camp and Bishop Okoro International Market.

Messers Dolf Global Resources Limited has quarry mining site at Edobi Ikpaa, lylomu, Ukpa/Amachara Farm Road, Afikpo while Brass Nigeria Limited have mining sites within Timber Shed Junction Area, Afikpo and along Afikpo/Akpoha/ Abakaliki High Way, Afikpo.

However, worried by this development, stakeholders of Afikpo Town Welfare Association rose up against the nefarious activities of these mining companies to save the health of the residents and concomitant effect of blasting and quarrying less than 3 kilometres from the host communities.

In a petition by Concerned Members of Afikpo Town and Afikpo Town Welfare Association (ATWA)dated December 7, 2023 addressed to The Speaker, Ebonyi State House of Assembly through Hon. Oluchukwu Ukie Ezeali, representing Afikpo North-East State Constituency, and titled “petition against hazardous blasting, quarrying and mining activitie against messrs Anli Mining Limited, China Solid Rock Nigeria Limited, Dolf Global Resources Limited and Brass Nigeria Limited, the community leaders disclosed that these companies carry out their blasting, quarrying and mining activities in complete violation of extant Environmental Laws and global best practices regulating blasting, quarrying and mining activities.

In the petition signed by Lady Cecilia Okole,President, Nzuko Umuada Ehugbo, Ichie Christopher Abagha Egwu, Chairman/Okabue Traditional Council of Elders of Afikpo, Dr. Mark Abani, Community Leader and Chief Gary Nnachi Enwo-Igariwey, former President Geeneral, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, the community leaders said “these sites are less than 300 meters from existing residential structures, commercial structures, farmlands and each time these companies carry out their quarrying, blasting and mining activities, pebbles usually fly out and damage the roofs of nearby buildings. Seismic tremors generated from such blasting and mining activities have been causing cracks in buildings within Afikpo Town.

“The smog-like dust which hovers in the sky within these blasting and mining areas have been causing respiratory health issues and challenges on the people due to constant inhalation of the dust particles. These Companies carry out their blasting, quarrying and mining activities in complete violation of extant Environmental Laws and global best practices regulating blasting, quarrying and mining activities.

“These Companies have no restoration or remediation plans with respect to the devastation and havoc they are causing to the environment in Afikpo Town. These companies flagrantly have disregarded substantial commencement of development requisite to mining areas as enshrined in the extant provisions of Section 71 of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”

According to the law, the holder of a mining lease shall not commence any development work or extraction of mineral resources on the mining lease area until after the submission and approval by the Mines Environmental of all Environmental Compliance Department Impact Assessment Studies and mitigation plans required under applicable environmental laws and regulations;

The law further stipulates submission and approval by the mines inspectorate department of the details of the work, which the applicant is prepared to undertake or the programme for carrying out any minimum work obligations imposed by the mines inspectorate department; the conclusion of the community development agreement compliance the by mines environmental approved by department; Besides, the law states that the holder should shoe proof he has duly notified, compensated, or offered compensation to all users of land within the mining lease areas as provided for under this Act or in the event of a dispute, after the matter has been resolved by arbitration.

The petition further states in part: “We have been inundated with myriads of complaints to the effect that Messrs Anli Mining Investment Limited, China Solid Rock Nigeria Limited, Dolf Global Resources Limited and Brass Nigeria Limited have never deemed it expedient to notify, compensate or offer compensation to all users of land within the Mining Lease Areas of the quarry and mining sites where these companies' quarrying, blasting and mining activities are already taking place within Afikpo town. 

“Too, in utter abhorrence to the sacrosanct provision of Section 20 of the National Environmental (Quarrying and Blasting Operations) Regulations, 2013, Messrs ANLI Mining Investment Limited, China Solid Rock Nigeria Limited, Dolf Global Resources Limited and Brass Nigeria Limited have been sitting their quarrying and mining sites within less than one kilometre (1km) where residential areas are already existing within Afikpo Urban Area. 

“Section 20 of the National Environmental (Quarrying and Blasting Operations) Regulations, 2013, which relates to the minimum safe distance from residence, provides that a person shall not locate a quarry or engage in blasting within-three kilometres (3km) of existing residential commercial or industrial area." 

House Committee Wades in

However, following the petition, the Ebonyi State House of Assembly committee on solid mineral development has taken some steps towards resolving the issues raised by Afikpo Town Welfare Association against some quarry operators for flagrantly disregarding the laid-down procedures for operations.

According to the chairman of the House Committee on Solid Minerals Development, Hon. Ifeanyi Nwakpu, representing Ikwo North  State constituency, during an assessment visit to China Solid Rock Company, stated that the national environment operations guiding quarry and blasting companies regulates that no person shall locate a quarry or blasting company within three kilometres of an existing residential, commercial or industrial area.

At ANLI Mining Investment sites, which was petitioned for exposing its workers into industrial hazards and not fulfilling community agreement,  Nwakpu,implored the company to improve on the welfare packages of its workers, enjoined the workers to always put on their safety gadgets not only when blasting is being carried out as well as told the management of the company to always fulfil the corporate agreement they had with the host community to avoid disturbances.

Alos speaking, the leader of the house, Hon. Kingsley Ikoro, implored the companies to always take the safety and welfare of their workers serious and advised host communities, entering into agreement with any company, to involve both the House of Assembly and the state government for proper directives.

Speaking on behalf of the petitioners, the Afikpo Town Welfare Association (ATWA) during the visits to some quarry sites, the President General, Chief Ogbonna Okogwu, and High Chief Gary Nnachi Enwo lamented the closeness of China Solid Rock to residential and industrial areas and implored the committee to look into the company’s operations and possibly relocate them. 

Responding on behalf of the ANLI Mining Investment, the company manager Mr. Reh Hu Shen, said the company has never reneged on their responsibilities to the host community and that the security and welfare of their workers are paramount to the management.