Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi has warned Chinese mining companies to stop open mining.
He said miners must adopt modern methods, to save the people from the hazards associated with open mining.
The governor spoke at the weekend at Echo alike in Ikwo Local Government during the funeral service/internment of the late Ogochukwu Elem, the state All Progressives Congress (APC) youth leader.
Elem and his two police escorts died inside one of the mining pits when the vehicle, in which they were travelling, skidded off the road and fell into a deep and large mining pit by the roadside. The tragedy occurred on Enyigba/FUNAI Road.
Umahi, who was angry over the Chinese activities, who have continued to use open mining, warned that such was no longer acceptable.
“I continue to insist that we should use modern method of mining. These Chinese that are doing these things, if you go to their place, they don’t do open mining. Why is that everything is just possible in Nigeria? It is not acceptable.
“And when you are pursuing these people, our people collect peanuts and aid them and all these mining these things, the government benefits nothing. We collect little bribe and allow them at night.
“Today, lead and zinc have filled our homes without knowing the effect on our liver. It is very dangerous. This is why we say if we get to any house that is housing lead and zinc, we will seal it and revoke its right of occupancy.”
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