The Enugu State Government has banned with immediate effect all illegal mining activities taking place in some communities of the state.
Making this known, weekend, the newly appointed Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, warned of dire consequences for any illegal miner that flouts the directive of the State Governor, Barr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah.
Onyia observed that it was in the over all interest of the public to protect the people from any hazard or pollution, and also maintain equal rights of benefits accruable from any mineral resources to the people of the state that informed the decision of the State Government.
According to him, the directive of Governor Mbah became necessary following the report of the discovery of mineral resources in some communities in the State, and the illegal mining of such mineral resources in those communities without the authorization/consent of the State Government.
“I hereby direct that all illegal mining activities in Enugu State should stop with immediate effect”, the statement added.
It would be recalled that Governor Mbah had in his recent inaugural address shortly after his swearing – in by the State Chief Judge, Justice Raymond A. Ozoemena, made it clear that his administration will be business unusual.
According to him, “tough decisions will be taken. Those will however be taken in the best interest of Ndi Enugu and Enugu State in general.
“You will constitute the driving force of every action we take as your representatives. Our driving force and governance philosophy will be always based on transcendental values”, he said.
Governor Mbah further promised to make the youths of Enugu State one of the biggest beneficiaries of his administration, adding that he will equip them with e -commerce, fintech and cyber security skills.