Rep urges National Assembly to intervene in alleged illegal mining in Abia community
The House of Representatives has received a petition regarding alleged illegal mining activities in the Imobi autonomous community of Achara Uturu, located in the Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State.
The petition was introduced on the House floor by Amobi Ogah, the representative for the Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal constituency, who is also a resident of Uturu.
It was authored by Eze Simeon Chukwuemeka, the traditional ruler of the Imobi community. The document accuses a private company and several individuals of facilitating unlawful quarry operations in the region. According to the petition, the company obtained a quarry lease license from the Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office in Abuja, encompassing nine cadastral units of land within the community.
However, the monarch claims that the consent letter used to obtain this license was signed by individuals lacking authorization as landowners or representatives of the community. Furthermore, Eze Chukwuemeka alleges that one of the signatories misrepresented himself as the paramount ruler, despite lacking any formal traditional title.
The petition also indicates that the community has previously communicated with the Director-General of the Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office, questioning the legitimacy of the license and requesting its revocation. Despite these challenges, the quarry lease has reportedly been granted.
In his presentation, Ogah urged the National Assembly to intervene, emphasizing the need to ensure due process in the allocation of mining licenses while safeguarding the rights of local communities. He warned that proceeding with the mining operations under these contentious circumstances could incite tension within the community and potentially disrupt public order.
