Traditional rulers and Presidents-Generals of some coal mining communities in Enugu State have expressed concern over the contamination of their sources of water and livelihood by the activities of coal miners.
They also expressed displeasure over the frequent violation of environmental safety and disregard for their health by coal miners operating in the areas.
The communities include Ezimo in the Udenu Local Government Area; Akwuke in the Enugu South LGA; Nsude in the Udi LGA; and Awha Imezi in the Ezeagu LGA, among others.
The traditional ruler of Nsude Autonomous Community in Udi Local Government, HRH George Onoh, who spoke in Enugu on behalf of the affected communities, appealed to the government to intervene by ensuring that companies engaged in mining obtained mining consents.
He said, “Following a series of deliberations, we have unanimously agreed to review the mining consent obtained by mining companies from our communities that have not lived up to expectations.
“Some of them were fraught with illegalities. This is in addition to brazen disregard for the environmental safety of our people whose sources of water and farming have been polluted from the source.”
The monarch urged individuals and organisations interested in mining to reach out to the government through the Secretary to the State Government to verify that they had the consent of communities.
“They should comply with ethical, environmental, and professional measures that guarantee the safety of their host communities subject to the Federal Government cadastre certificates,” he said.
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