Adamawa Govt clears mining coy, blames Yola flood on human activities
The Adamawa State Government has absolved Hydro Resources Ltd of any wrongdoing in its mining operations near the Uki Earth Dam, giving the company a clean bill of health and debunking claims linking its activities to the recent devastating floods in Yola South Local Government Area.
In the wake of the massive flood which affected parts of Yola South LG of Adamawa State, the social media space became awash with speculations that a dam constructed by hydro resources Ltd for mining activity was responsible for the tragedy which left in its trail deaths, destruction, and displacement.
Speaking in an exclusive interview, the State Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Mohammed Sadiq Mohammed, firmly dismissed social media reports alleging that the floods were triggered by uncontrolled water spillage from the Uki Dam, an earth dam constructed by Hydro Resources Ltd to support its mining operations.
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“The mining activity taking place is done in total compliance with the laws and regulations governing such activity and in line with best practices. The company has provided all relevant documentation required for its operations, the claim that the company is operating illegally is baseless, unfounded and a gross misrepresentation of the facts,” Mohammed said.
Mohammed clarified that the responsibility of regulating mining operations falls under the jurisdiction of the federal government, not the state adding that as chairman of the State Committee on Mining and Environment, he knows that Hydro Resources Ltd has complied fully with regulatory protocols and acquired the necessary approvals from relevant federal agencies.
“Only the federal government has oversight over mining and the exploration of other natural resources like petroleum and gas. Our role at the state level is advisory and complementary, and based on all evidence before us, due process has been strictly followed,” he said.
Addressing concerns about the dam, the commissioner explained that water is a critical component in mining processes and that the construction of an earth dam or reservoir is standard industry practice. He emphasized that the Uki Earth Dam includes a properly engineered spillway to discharge excess water safely.
“The dam is not responsible for the massive flooding in Yola South, the spillway created is designed to manage overflow efficiently, similar to the natural runoff from the Uki-Tuki hills. The volume from such spillages cannot account for the scale of flooding experienced recently,” he added.
Mohammed pointed to long-standing human factors as the primary cause of the disaster. He revealed that extensive field assessments conducted by the Ministry of Environment traced the flooding to the illegal blockage of natural waterways by buildings, waste dumps, and other human activities.
“The flood was caused mainly by human encroachment. Many waterways have been obstructed by residential structures and refuse. During the administration of former Governor Murtala Nyako, substantial funds were allocated to compensate owners of buildings on waterways, and demolitions were carried out. Unfortunately, some speculators later resold the same lands, and about 84 new houses were built on waterways illegally.”
To prevent a recurrence, the commissioner said the government is taking steps to reclaim and enforce public right-of-way, especially around filling stations and critical drainage paths.
“We are currently reviewing the right-of-way across key locations and will require all filling stations to provide at least three meters for the construction of culverts and water channels,” he said.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to sustainable environmental management and warned that moving forward, there would be stricter enforcement of environmental regulations and stiffer penalties for encroachment and illegal dumping.
