AKSG orders immediate closure of metal firm in Uyo
The Evangelist edition, July 15, 2022.
The Ministry of Environment and Solid Mineral in collaboration with the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Environment has ordered Golden Tripod International Limited O2 Production and Shoe Brake Manufacturing Industry Project, Uyo to cease operation with immediate effect pending when due documents authorising their operations were provided to guide further action.
The order was given following an oversight visit to the company located at Ikot Ebido Oku along Ikot Ekpene Road, Uyo.
On behalf of the visiting team, the Member representing Nsit Atai State Constituency and the Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Environment, Mr Mark Esset announced that the Company should be shut down immediately pending when they can provide necessary documents permitting their operations in the State.
The team also comprising the Commissioner for Environment and Solid Minerals Sir Charles Udoh, and officials of the State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency, frowned at the state of the factory, without proper ventilation and inhumane working conditions found on site as well as action of the workers who attacked the visiting team and their vehicles.
In a brief interface at the Ministry of Environment and Solid Mineral with the Managing Staff of Tripod International Limited, the team resolved as follows; “For obstructing the official oversight duties of the Government by hoodlums and destroying our vehicles; For operating without official permit from the Akwa Ibom State Government; and posing serious health/environmental hazard to the workers and residents through your operations against all environmental standards, your operations should be stood down with immediate effect till further notice pending when official documents permitting your operations will be provided for further action.”
In his reaction, the Commissioner for Environment and Solid Mineral, Mr. Charles Udoh said the company has not only violated the environmental standards which is in the concurrent list of the State Government but endangers the lives of workers and residents of the area.
The Commissioner said since the company started operation in 2018, it has not reached out to the Ministry about their operations as contained in the unauthorized Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the company.
Coroborating the claims of environmental hazards posed by the operation of the company, residents lament of dark coloured rain water with black soot emission.
On further interrogations of the Management staff who took over operations of the company after the death of the former MD, who was also a Chinese, revealed that they have been evading invitations from the State Ministry of Environment; House Committee on Environment; and Environmental Health Workers who had sealed the place at a time and sued them.
These invitations were not respected by the Company with the excuse that the current MD, addressed as Mr. Lin Zi was not around on medical grounds.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Mr. Nsudoh Nsudoh said that by right the Company before operation should have provided Operational Permit, Health Safety Permit and approved EIA through the designated organ of Government.
The Ministry warned other Companies operating in the State without recourse to the existing environmental standards to retrace their steps and allow this to serve as a deterrent.
Meanwhile, the MD, Mr Lin Zi and his Marketing Manager, Mr. Peter Yuan are currently being detained pending presentation of the required documents and proper investigation of the matter by the government team.
Some workers, ignorant of the hazardous nature of their working conditions and environment, had tried preventintg sealing of the factory while protesting the action of the Government team violently.
