By Obiabin Onukwugha
In what could be described as a strategic move to avert loss of lives and attendant environmental impacts, some environmental bodies and stakeholders have demanded the decommissioning of all the moribund coal mining sites in Enugu State.
Representing a diverse range of perspectives, the stakeholders included environmental rights activists, retired miners, their families, and the media. They converged at a media interactive and town hall meeting on coal mining, a joint initiative by the Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), New Life Community Care Initiative (NELCCI), Neighborhood Environmental Watch (NEW), Community Development Advocacy Foundation (CODAF), and the Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN) in Enugu state .
At the program, the stakeholders submitted that the 70 years of coal mining in the state have been tales of woes, pain, and environmental degradation. They resolved to write to Enugu State, drawing its attention to the need to be in the vanguard for calls for a just energy transition that respects the people and the environment.
In his opening remarks, the convener and Executive Director of RDI, Mr Philip Jakpor, emphasised that coal mining did not benefit the state and its communities economically. He recalled that the Enugu State government banned illegal mining activities in 2023.
Jakpor said, “While this action was good, we had anticipated that the state government would work with the Federal government to carry out an environmental audit to ascertain the true health of the bedrock so that life could continue to sustain in Enugu.
“There are fears that Enugu may be sitting on a time bomb due to the underground mining that happened during the mining periods. Instead, it would seem the state government embarked on a re-certification exercise for miners.
“The announcement last month by the Enugu State Government of December as the deadline for mineral title holders to commence coal mining operations in the state lends credence to our argument.
“There are many cases of the earth collapsing when locals are farming. There are open pits, groundwater polluted and the communities overrun by herdsmen who have practically scared and chased away the original landowners.
“Locals allege that trucks laden with coal are leaving Enugu every day and no proper documentation to know if it is illegally done or with the full support of the state government. If it is with the support of the state, we should know how much revenue is now coming in. We do not want to believe that a few individuals are now reaping the commonwealth of Enugu citizens.”
In their separate remarks, th Project Officer of NEW Foundation, Afulike Okezie, Executive Director of EDEN, Barrister Chima Williams, Director of CODAF, Ubrei Joe-Mariere, as well as Mrs Florence Aneke, the Executive Director of NELCCI, also called for the decommissioning of coal mining in the state.
On their part, the retired miners and family members of some late miners lamented years of neglect by the Enugu State government.
The stakeholders, therefore, demanded that the Federal government commence a full and detailed audit of the post-coal mining in Enugu.
“Decommissioning of the moribund mines to avoid further environmental degradation and loss of human life.
“Profiling of former miners and adequate compensation paid to them. If they are now dead, their families should be identified and compensated.
“Inform and regularly update citizens of Enugu on what’s going on regarding coal mining.
“Make public the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) conducted by the selected firms.
“Make any agreements the companies have with the coal mining communities public.
“Properly explain the role of the Enugu state government in coal extraction. Are they spectators, collaborators, or only some government officials running the show? Explore potentials in renewable energy sources.
“Support mining communities in forming a network to share ideas, monitor their environment, and report unsustainable practices by firms engaging in coal extraction in their communities.”