Kogi State House of Assembly has called for the suspension of all mining activities in Omala local government area of the State until the outcome of the investigation and decision of the House.
In a motion of urgent public importance moved on Wednesday by the lawmaker representing Omala State Constituency Hon. Yahaya Umar, he called on the state government to as a matter of urgency stop the pollution of rivers and environment by coal mining activities in the area.
The House also urged the state government and relevant federal regulatory agencies to urgently intervene by mandating a full-scale investigation into the activities of miners and assessing the environmental and health impacts of coal mining activities in Omala LGA.
Hon. Umar who presented the motion before the house, appealed to the assembly to urgently address the growing environmental and public health crisis resulting from the activities of coal Mining companies in Omala local government area and other parts of the state.
“I urge this Honourable House to note that the original idea behind licensing coal miners in Kogi State was largely part of the Nigerian Electricity Vision 30:30:30 and the Rural Electrification Strategy and Implementation Plan (RESIP) which were rolled out in 2015 and aimed at diversifying our power mix and increase renewable energy contributions to the national grid.
“Coal was expected to contribute 4 per cent of power generation by 2020, and 10 per cent by 2030. But today, that dream has not only failed to materialize, it has turned into a nightmare for our communities.
“For over eight years coal mining firms were licensed to mine coal in Kogi state with the stated goal of power generation, including: Rockbottom Mines and Power, Mosra Enerji Ltd, and others.
” However, most of these firms have failed to deliver any measurable electricity contribution to the national grid. Rather than powering our homes, these coal mining activities — particularly in Oloku on the outskirts of Abejukolo, Omala LGA — have led to serious pollution of rivers, destruction of farmlands and contamination of the very water sources that thousands of our constituents rely upon for drinking, cooking, sanitation and irrigation.
“Alarmed that companies like Rockbottom Mines and Mosra Enerji Ltd are discharging acidic coal waste and heavy metals into the Alugbo River, which has now threatened the major water system that flows downstream through Edihi and links to the Omala River — the same river from which our Local Government derives its name. Communities such as Oloku, Otti, Icheke Ajedibo, Ikeffi, Oliya, Ibadan, Kaduna, Efiwo, Ajaja, Ogoh, Abejukolo and others are all affected. These facts are disturbing.
“When coal seams are exposed to air and water, they produce acid mine drainage, leaching toxic metals like arsenic, lead, and copper into surrounding water bodies. These poisons do not just pollute rivers, they accumulate in the food chain and pose serious health risks to both humans and livestock. The science is clear about this.
“Worried that this water contamination will not only put the health and livelihoods of thousands of citizens at risk but disrupt agricultural activities, causing land degradation, and endangering aquatic life and biodiversity in the area.
The lawmaker who pointed out that while these companies profit from their land and resources, lamented that many of the host communities have no access to electricity, no alternative water supply, no meaningful community benefits among others.
“These mining operations, though licensed for power generation, have failed to deliver on their core mandate while the host communities continue to bear the brunt of the environmental damage caused by the mining activities.
“Similar environmental concerns are being raised in Ankpa LGA, where other companies, including Zuma 828 Ltd and Dangote, operate coal mining sites with limited regard for community benefit or environmental remediation. As an institution, we must, therefore, act – not tomorrow, but now.
“Environmental degradation is not just a rural issue; it is a governance issue, a health issue, a justice issue – and it is within our constitutional mandate to act in the interest of our people.
He appealed that, an Ad-hoc Committee of this Honourable House be constituted to investigate the activities of coal mining firms in the affected areas, particularly Rockbottom Mines and Mosra Enerji Ltd, and report its findings with actionable recommendations to this Honourable House.