On a bid to protect the environment and the country’s rivers and waterways, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has embarked on the massive destruction of dredge machines that are illegally used by individuals in the country.

In a recent report following a rigorous raid they have destroyed over seventy dredge machines used in illegal mining in the country’s rivers and waterways, through a team led by the directors of Field Operations and Extensions, including Legal, Compliance and Enforcement, External Relations and Advocacy, and officials from regional security forces.

They Agency has remained very proactive on the stop of such illegal use of mercury, a harmful chemical that has disrupted ecosystems, altered flow patterns, led to erosion, contaminated waterways with toxic chemicals, and endangered aquatic life and human health, hence the agency has always refused to issue Environmental Impact Assessment Licenses to undertake such degrading environmental activity.

In compliance with section 12 of the EPA Act, 2022, and the Presidential Directive to stem the pollution of water bodies dated 9th June 2021, the agency destroyed over seventy dredges discovered doing illegal mining, arrested illegal miners, and turned them over to the Police for further investigation and prosecution.

They have also revealed that there is need for an urgent need to safeguard the country’s rivers and environment for current and future generations, and through stringent regulations, enforcement measures, and community engagement, we will continue our efforts to combat dredging and illicit mining and ensure a sustainable future for all.