FG delegation visits FCT community, assesses damage by Chinese company

A federal government delegation has visited Kutasa community in Karshi, federal capital territory (FCT), where it assessed the damage done by the operations of a Chinese mining company as uncovered by TheCable.

The delegation, which comprised eight persons mostly from the Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission (NIWRMC) was at the community on Monday where it spoke with some villagers regarding the damage.

TheCable had reported how Hongao Mining Company Limited, which is protected by officers of the Nigerian police force, operates with the water from a stream in Kutasa.

The stream is the only water source for at least six communities in the area. The villagers, mostly farmers, said some of them drink from it.

A laboratory analysis carried out on the water confirmed that it is highly turbid and unfit for drinking.

In the analysis done at the FCT water board, Okobi O. Y. who signed the report on behalf of the general manager, said the “physio-chemical analysis shows high levels of turbidity, nitrate and iron” and that “water may need further treatment”.

Austine Akpuma, a director at Hongao, had in an interview with TheCable admitted they were using the water in washing excavated stones, but he gave security challenge as an excuse for not providing a borehole since they started operation in 2019.

TheCable learnt that none of Hongao staff was around when the government delegation visited the operation site, though their machinery was still there.

Writing via its Twitter handle, NIWRMC, which said it has started investigating the issue, stated that it is seeking to “encourage water source protection strategy for the community”.

https://twitter.com/NIWRMC/status/1282782445218213888?s=20

https://twitter.com/NIWRMC/status/1282782490831261701?s=20

https://twitter.com/NIWRMC/status/1282782295930425347?s=20