By Dr Innocent Chidumebi Okonkwo.
Sand mining has become a widespread and lucrative business in Aguleri and other Omabala areas. The area is home to some of the Anambra state’s largest sand reserves, which are now used for constructions in the state.
However, the uncontrolled and often illegal extraction of sand has led to severe environmental and social impacts, including the destruction of ecosystems, loss of livelihoods, and displacement of communities.
Sand mining is a legitimate business but illegal sand mining is a significant problem in the state, the lack of effective regulation and enforcement has allowed for rampant illegal sand mining to occur.
Some of the stakeholders in Aguleri like HRH Igwe Johnson Mbanefo and Igwe Lawrence Nwofia have lamented about the dangers of illegal sand Mining in Aguleri coastal community:
According to Igwe Lawrence Nwofia, the negative impact of sand mining in Aguleri is the damage to infrastructure. In an interview with the traditional ruler of Eziagulu Otu, he said that Umuaga is the owner of the beach site and that he has the full right to benefit from the business but declined to be part of it because of it's environmental hazard to the community. "The road is swampy and we are afraid that constant movement of heavy vehicles will damage it" He said that government has already suspended every dredging activity in the area and he would work with other traditional rulers and the good people of Aguleri to ensure the dredgers did not return to the site.
"Dredging can cause erosion and sedimentation, which can affect Odene bridge, Aguleri internal roads, and other infrastructure and lead to costly repairs and even accidents, such as bridge collapse.
Moreover, the Aguleri Community Assembly under the leadership of Barr. Rolex Ifeanyi Iloakasia paid a courtesy visit to the mining site on Monday, 30th October 2023 to asses the direct impact of the activities of sand mining in Aguleri.
While speaking with the journalists, Iloakasia said that water ways management is an exclusive right of the Federal government. He said that during former Governor Willy Obiano's tenure, that a committee was constituted to recommend solutions to the annual flooding of Aguleri Otu communities and they came out with a recommendation to dredge Omabala and sand fill Aguleri Otu communities. He maintained that Aguleri Indigenes were given a wrong impression by those who believe that their interests were not protected by the miners.
Speaking further, Iloakasia said that" in one of his several meetings with Ndi Igwe and PGS, He told them that the bridge would not collapse. "It is even an indictment on our brother that constructed a standard bridge to say that the bridge will collapse. and every one in the meeting agreed with me."
"Aguleri is great today because of our unity. I have tried so hard not to offend any interest concerning the issue of sand mining in Aguleri. However, it's ridiculous to say that the bridge at Odene will collapse when tippers are allowed to go through it".
"The only thing we try to avoid is illegal mining".
"There was a time Ezeudo suspectd an illegal sand mining and closed the beach. It was closed for one year and six months. " The people of Umuaga who owns the land came to me, I called several meetings between Ndi Igwe and Ndi PGS and while we were still having the meetings, the Umuaga people said they had a legitimate claim and entered the site and continued their activities promising us that they would do the correct thing and I can assure you that they now have a direction".
"We have agreed to sign a corporate social responsibility agreement with the miners. They agreed to be clearing the gutter".
" They have also repaired road at Ogbu mgbogu in the past and I want to assure you that once we sign our own part of the agreement, they will be responsible for any damage on the road".
"The Town Union is yet to sign her own part of the agreement because of all these loggerheads. I am delaying to sign own part because I want everybody to be on the same page".
When he was asked if Aguleri generates revenue through the dredgers, Iloakasia said they pay N200 per tipper but it has not been constant due to this issue. He said such funds are paid into the town union account.
He concluded by saying that NIWA an authority that regulates mining in the state recommends, the site to be 100 meters away from the bridge but in this case, they are 500 meters away from the Odene bridge.
" My brother it's all personal interest, they are not close to main road rather, they were even mandated to cast a stone base to ensure the heavy vehicles do not damage the edges of the road while moving to the site".
On his own, the traditional ruler of Enugwu Otu community, HRH Igwe Emmanuel Igbago Ejor said that miming is not an illegal business once they do it with licence. He said that he observed that they were not close to the bridge as alleged but however said that people's agitation was that they may not be able to repair a damage if it occurs. "I've asked all the traditional rulers in Aguleri to meet and discuss the matter after Eri world festival and I promise that something good will surely come out of the meeting because what the traditional rulers will not want is to start a violence within ourselves.
In his own reaction, Chief Alex Nnaluo who is one of the owners of the sites and also the Vice President of Aguleri community Assembly said that it's obvious that those with interest are cooking up lies against the dredging activities in the area.
Nnaluo openly accused HRH Igwe Lawrence Nwofia of leading the fight because of his personal interest.
" In the first place, what they were contesting was to be collecting IGR, when they could not succeed they decided to fight the dredging activities "
"When all the Aguleri town union excos visited the site on Monday this week, they saw stone base construction by all the companies that mine in the area".
"We mandated all of them to do it in other not to break the edges of the tarred road while moving to the various sites and they did it".
"The recommendation of NIWA is 100 meters but our own Umuaga beach left 500 meters away from the bridge"
"There was a time some illegal miners were close to the main road and the Igwes came and chased them away with vigilante group and I want to tell you that there is nothing like that again"
"They complained about dirtiness of the main road and sweepers were employed to sweep the road on daily basis"
" Odene bridge was built for easy transportation of oil and let me tell you that the weight of such oil tankers are times two of the sand tippers weight"
"All the tippers are passing through Oyi bridge and no Nteje man has complained. How will our own that is modern and built with modern equipment to suit heavy duty vehicles that transport oil collapse? "
"Hon. Julius Chukwuemeka the commissioner for works has his own dredger at Odene-Umundeze but he is making effort to close the site in another family's land. Is that not wickedness and personal interest? "
Is it not better that we are dealing with people who will guarantee to repair our roads whenever it gets damaged than making unnecessary protest over a business activity that is controlled by the State government ?"
 |
OMT RECOMMENDATIONS:
To address the dangers of sand mining in Aguleri, several solutions can be implemented. One approach is to promote sustainable sand mining practices that minimize the environmental impact of sand mining. This can be achieved by ensuring that the miners use environmentally friendly technologies and practices, such as the use of dredging machines that minimize sedimentation and the restoration of mined areas to their original state.
Another solution is to strengthen the regulatory framework for sand mining in Aguleri. The community can enforce existing laws and regulations to ensure that sand mining activities are carried out in a sustainable and responsible manner. A writeen MOU to ensure that they pay in the case of any eventuality. Additionally, the community can partner with government to develop new policies and regulations that promote sustainable sand mining practices and protect the rights of Aguleri local communities.
Community engagement is also essential in addressing the issue. Let the local communities be involved in the decision-making process regarding sand mining activities in their areas. This can help to ensure that their rights and interests are protected and that sand mining activities are carried out in a sustainable and responsible manner.