Fear of epidemic outbreak, occasioned by activities of coal miners, has gripped Ukwu-Nzu community in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State.
When South-South PUNCH visited two rivers – Odo and Ojokpa – in Ukwu-Nzu community, it was observed that the waters of the two rivers had been polluted as a result mining in the neighboring Ugboba community, thus changing their ciolour.
South-South PUNCH observed that water is muddy and brownish in colour while the vegetation in the effected rivers has changed colour from the usual green.
An indigene and a community leader, Mr Kaikenechukwu Okolie, lamented the situation the community is going through due to the activity of coal mining
He said, “We have been facing this challenge for over two months, nothing was done about it. We have been making frantic efforts to reach out to the government to help us.
“We reached out to the Commissioner for Environment and the Chairman of Aniocha North Local Government Area of the state.
“We also reached out to the coal mining company, Mosra Energy and they visited the rivers, but till now, we have not heard from them over two months.
“Nobody is against the coal mining in our neighboring community; we are only concerned about the pollution in our rivers. As I speak to you now, our people cannot use the water to process cassava because of the pollution.
“Our people are afraid of using the water because there may be an outbreak of epidemics. So, we are begging government to come to our aid before people will be dying.”
Another indigene simply identified as Ikechukwu Ezedunor described the situation as life threatening, saying, “We are not angry about the coal mining that is going on in our neighboring community, but we are concerned about the effects.
“The miming activity by Mosra Energy is badly affecting us in all areas. Our water has been polluted and our road has spoiled as I speak.
“The river cannot habit aquatic activity now, let alone for drinking, we are calling on Governor Sheriff Oborevweri, as a matter of urgency, to address the situation before people will start dying as a result of cholera and other diseases.
The state Commissioner for Environment, Mr Jamani Ejiro, who confirmed the situation on Wednesday in Asaba, said he got the information in December 2023.
Ejiro said, “I got the information about the activities of the coal mining last year and I wanted to visit the site before the climate change issue.
“We will visit the site next week to get firsthand information, because the MORE Agenda of Governor Oborevweri is to protest the people, so we will not want somebody to destroy our environment or waterway.
“We will soon go into action now that we are reliably informed that there is water pollution in the community to save life”
Responding to the allegation that coal mining activity in the neighbouring community was responsible for the pollution being experience in Ukwu-Nzu community, the Resource Manager, Mosra Energy Limited, Mr Amed Ali, said the colouration of the river was a result of NEWMAP erosion control in the community years back and not the activities of coal mining.
He said, “Regards to the purported colouration of the rivers, our coal mining process does not generate any waste.
“When the issue happened, we also took our time to carry out our own independent investigation and discovered that some years back, the NEWMAP erosion control channel drainage to the river as the only way to avoid reoccurring erosion.
“The red sand – laterite – was part of the material used and they did erosion control to level and stopped. So, during raining season, it move laterite to the river and colour the river. It is some that were stuck on the way that is colouring the river not our activities.”
