Akwa Ibom issues regulatory guidelines for artisanal miners

Akwa Ibom has issued regulatory guidelines for artisanal miners in the state.

The state government, in a statement on Tuesday, signed by Charles Udoh, the state commissioner for environment, said the directive follows the continuous activities of illegal sand dredgers and gravel miners in the state.

“The activities of illegal sand dredgers and gravel miners have continued to pose severe environmental and security threats in Akwa Ibom state,” the statement read.

“Critical state infrastructure and assets are currently being threatened, several communities have lost their sources of natural drinking water, farm lands are being devastated with an attendant lose of revenue.

“It is even more worrisome that suspicious characters from all parts of the country are beginning to find dwelling places in our state under the guise of sand dredging or gravel mining.”

The state government said the regulatory guidelines for all current and prospective artisanal miners include: “Formal expression of interest to Akwa Ibom state ministry of environment; site verification/inspection.

“Evidence of memorandum of understanding (MoU) with host communities; evidence of operational permit/license by federal ministry of mines & steel and National Inland WaterWays Authority (NIWA), where applicable.

“Acceptable environmental management plan (EMP); evidence of business registration with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

“Evidence of up-to-date tax clearance from Akwa Ibom state Internal Revenue Service (AKIRS); and environmental permit issued by the Akwa Ibom state ministry of environment. This is renewable annually while approved locations will be mapped”.

The state government also said all prospective miners and current operators must be certified to have completed this process before commencement of operation.

It further said all operators must subject their sites to a mandatory quarterly environmental monitoring as well as an annual environmental audit, adding that the implementation of the guidelines takes immediate effect.