Experts Lament Pollution In Ebonyi Mining Sites

Scientists at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State under the umbrella of Environmental Process and Forensic Research Group (ENPROFORG) have expressed concern over the high level of environmental pollution in the various mining sites in Ikwo and Enyigba communities in the state.

The group’s principal investigator, Dr Peter Okoli, expressed the concern during a one-day symposium and stakeholders meeting on the theme, “Role of Environmental Forensics in the Efficient Management of Environmental Impacts of Mining in Nigeria.”

The symposium was held at the mini auditorium, NEEDS Assessment Building of the university.

Okoli described the challenges of environmental forensics in Nigeria as a serious setback to proper utilisation of the mineral resources in the country and noted with dismay inefficiency in the management of environmental impact of mining sites in Nigeria.

The university don said that its work is based on samples collected from many mining deposits across the country and decried the non-compliance to environmental impact assessment in mining sites across the country.

He said the aim of the symposium was to find ways to mitigate the inadequacies in the mining sector with the hope that things would get better in the country, especially in the university system.

The vice chancellor of the university, Prof Sunday Elom, who opened the symposium, said that the school is using the human resources at its disposal to ensure the progress of the society.

Elom who was represented by the deputy vice chancellor (Administration), Prof Abel Ezeoha, thanked the Department of Chemistry for making the university proud through ENPROFORG.

Prof Amobi Ekwe in a presentation titled: “Mining of Solid Minerals- Economic Benefits and the Environmental Conundrum”, said “economic development is significantly influenced by mining with numerous economic, environmental and social issues that have also been linked to it, raising concerns about the sustainability of the mining’s economic benefits.”

Ekwe said in order to overcome the problems, the industry must lessen its negative effects on the environment, society, culture, health, and human development, as well as on governance and macroeconomic management.