By ABAH ADAH, Abuja
Communities along River Umabe coast in Benue South Senatorial Zone may have left their lives in the hand of fate as they continue to drink water from the river – the soul source of the water to their ancestral land from creation which is now highly contaminated by the strip coal mining by the Dangote Group at its source in Ugbokolo.
This is happening even as the Federal Government continues to assure Nigerians of its commitment to responsible and environmentally friendly mining across the country.
AljazirahNigeria can report that at various fora in the last one year, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, had reiterated the President Tinubu-led Federal Government ‘s commitment to securing solid mineral mining areas, streamlining operations, and ensuring that the practices align with global standards with minimal or no environmental harm.
According to the Minister, the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development would collaborate with the Ministry of Environment to ensure safe mining operations in the country.
Natives of four local government areas of Okpokwu, Ohimini, Otukpo and Ado in Southern Benue state had lamented the environmental degradation, especially the pollution of their natural and main source of water, caused by the mining operations which take place at the upper region of Okollo stream in Effeche-Akpali in Ugbokolo ward of the local government, empties into the River Umabe and then River Okpokwu.
During a recent visit, it was discovered that River Umabe which used to be a source of clean water for drinking and other domestic uses for the coastline communities now runs its course with contaminated, murky water even as dry season prevails, with its volume inflated and the aquatic ecosystem badly affected to the extent that even the fishes and other aquatic animals that have also served as source of protein to the inhabitants no longer hold sway as used to be the case.
A health expert Doctor Albert Igbogie who spoke on the grave consequences of the water pollution said the residents are not safe but prone to waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, dysentery, hepatitis A, Giardiasis, e.coli among others no matter how long it takes.
“What is happening here has grave health implications for the people now or later. It’s like a time bomb waiting to explode in form of an outbreak of cholera among other waterborne the residents in the near future, and that will be so calamitous. It had better be addressed now before it becomes too late”, he advised.
AljazirahNigeria gathered that agreement reached between the Dangote firm and some representatives on the behalf of the affected communities after so much pressure included payment of compensation to those whose agricultural land were affected, provision of at least a borehole for each of the affected communities among others, but the agreement seemed not to have been honoured fully.
Though Dangote reportedly made some payment to some people through a committee set up, and also made some attempts at meeting the terms of the agreement, going by what is on ground, there is every reason to believe that process was abandoned along the way, leaving the people to their fate, while the environmental degradation and water pollution caused by the mineral exploitation continue.
For instance, in a village called Ogene along the Umabe River course, a borehole was seen in place but not functional as at the time of the visit.
A villager there, Mr Anthony Ogwuche, who bared his mind said, “The borehole they said they have provided is not working, but our ancestral source of water has been so polluted and we have no other option but to drink from it in spite of the health implications.
“After all, how many of the people have the resources to travel over the distance of about 8 kilometres to Ugbokolo town to buy satchet waters and come back.
“What we even need is to have the Umabe water restored to its original clean state by way of responsible mining so that we can continue to use it without fear of poisoning, as was the case before now”.
A copy of Community Development Agreement ,CDA, cited by NATIONAL RECORD, in which Dangote Coal Mines Limited and Effeche-Akpali community signed on March 12, 2020 showed the failure of Dangote to actualise its obligation to the affected population.
Articles 1 to 6 of the agreement notes that Dangote should provide potable water, health care centres/clinics, vocational training centres among other basic social amenities as well as incentives such as scholarships and compensations to the affected in fulfillment of agreement and its Corporate Social Responsibility ,CSR.
