By Abiodun Abdullai
The Imo State Government has announced an immediate and total ban on all forms of mining and dredging activities within the Owerri Capital Territory, citing years of unregulated operations that have severely damaged the city's environment.
The Commissioner for Industry, Mines and Solid Minerals, Ernest Ibejiako, disclosed this during a stakeholders' meeting held in Owerri. He said the decision followed widespread destruction linked to uncontrolled sand mining, which has resulted in devastating floods, soil erosion, and the collapse of key infrastructure across the capital.
"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," Ibejiako said. "No responsible government will sit back and allow its environment to be degraded to the point of collapse."
Federal government's response
The commissioner commended the Minister of Solid Minerals Development for promptly responding to the state's distress call by dispatching a federal team to assess the situation.
He explained that Governor Hope Uzodinma's administration, acting under Section 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978, has formally requested the federal government to revoke all mining licences issued within Owerri Capital Territory.
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Ibejiako revealed that despite previous bans — dating back to 2017 and reinforced in 2019 by former Minister of State Uche Oga — illegal dredging has continued, expanding the Owerri River to what he described as "oceanic proportions."
"Bridges, road networks, and even perimeter fences of institutions like Alvan Ikoku University have been destroyed," he said. "Entire communities and farmlands are under threat, and flooding has become a daily reality."
Government warns defaulters
Ibejiako warned that the state will invoke the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act of 2007 to prosecute violators and enforce strict compliance with environmental protection standards.
"We will no longer, in the name of legality or federal licensing, sacrifice the environmental safety and survival of Owerri Capital Territory," he declared. "Let us save Owerri now, or risk losing her forever."
He reaffirmed the administration's commitment to sustainable development and environmental preservation, adding that only responsible mining activities — conducted outside the capital and compliant with Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), Environmental Management Plans (EMP), and Community Development Agreements (CDA) — will be permitted going forward.
