The House of Representatives has received a request concerning purported illicit mining activities in Imobi autonomous community, Achara Uturu, within Isuikwuato LGA of Abia State.
The request was introduced on the floor of the House by the representative for Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal constituency, Amobi Ogah, who also originates from Uturu.
The request, authored by the traditional leader of Imobi autonomous community, Eze Simeon Chukwuemeka, accused a private entity and several individuals in the community of supposedly enabling unlawful quarry operations in the vicinity.
According to the request, the entity reportedly acquired a quarry lease authorization from the Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office in Abuja, encompassing nine cadastral units of mining territory in the community.
However, the monarch in the request alleged that the consent document utilized to obtain the authorization was signed by individuals who were neither landowners in the region nor authorized representatives of the community.
The traditional leader further accused that one of the signatories falsely claimed to be the paramount leader of the community, despite lacking any recognized traditional title.
The request also indicated that the community had previously contacted the Director-General of the Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office and other authorities, disputing the legitimacy of the authorization and urging its annulment. In spite of these grievances, the quarry lease was reportedly approved.
The request cautioned that permitting the mining operation to advance under the contested circumstances might generate discord within the community and potentially lead to a collapse of law and order.
In presenting the request, Amobi Ogah urged the National Assembly to intervene and guarantee that proper procedures are adhered to in the allocation of mining authorizations, while safeguarding the rights of host communities.
