Imo State Bans Sand Mining in Owerri Over Massive Environmental Damage and Flooding

The Imo State Government has announced a total ban on sand mining and dredging activities within Owerri, the state capital, citing widespread environmental destruction and infrastructure collapse caused by years of unregulated operations.

The Commissioner for Industry, Mines and Solid Minerals, Ernest Ibejiako, made this known during a crucial stakeholders’ meeting with mining and dredging operators held in Owerri.

According to Ibejiako, the decision follows persistent cases of illegal sand mining that have resulted in flooding, soil erosion, and damage to key public infrastructure across the city.

“Enough is enough. The government and people of Imo State can no longer fold their arms while the indiscriminate degradation of our capital territory continues,” he stated.
“No responsible government will sit back and allow its environment to be destroyed to the point of collapse.”

Federal Government Intervention

The commissioner expressed gratitude to the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development for responding swiftly to the state’s alarm by sending a team of senior federal directors to assess the situation.

He revealed that the Governor Hope Uzodinma-led administration, invoking the public interest provision of Section 28 of the Land Use Act (1978), has officially notified federal authorities and requested the revocation of all mining licences within Owerri Capital Territory.

Despite previous bans in 2017 and 2019, Ibejiako lamented that illegal dredging and sand mining have persisted, worsening the city’s environmental challenges.

“The Owerri River, once a narrow stream, has now been dangerously expanded through uncontrolled dredging. Bridges, road networks, and even the perimeter fences of institutions like Alvan Ikoku University have been destroyed,” he said.
“Communities and farmlands are under threat, and flooding has become a daily nightmare for residents.”

Government Issues Stern Warning

Ibejiako warned that the Imo State Government would strictly enforce the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act of 2007, prosecuting offenders and ensuring full compliance with environmental protection regulations.

“We will no longer hide under the guise of legality or federal licensing to endanger the safety of Owerri. Let us save our capital now, or risk losing it forever,” he warned.

He reaffirmed the Uzodinma administration’s commitment to sustainable development and environmental preservation, emphasizing that only responsible mining operations outside the capital territory — fully compliant with Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), Environmental Management Plans (EMP), and Community Development Agreements (CDA) — will be allowed.