Mining operator decries interference of Ebonyi Government in mining operations
NAN-H-28
Mining
Abakaliki, Feb. 23 , 2018 (NAN) A mining operator, Chief Henry Ahanotu, says interference with mining operations by the Ebonyi Government is capable of stifling the mining sector in the state.
Ahanotu, who is the Managing Director, Greenfield Metals Nigeria Limited, said that agents of Ebonyi Government, disrupted activities at his mining site in Ishiagu, on Wednesday, Feb 21.
Ahanotu who spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abakaliki, said that they arrived about 2 p.m. and stopped operation.
He said that his company was licensed and registered with the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steels Development and maintains cordial relationship with the host community.
The managing director said that mining operations fell in the exclusive legislative list, and noted that state governments lacked constitutional powers to collect additional revenue from mining companies.
“The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to Gov. Dave Umahi, Mrs Nwakaego Nworie led a combined team of armed Police, Civil Defense Corps and the Army to our mining site on Wednesday, Feb. 21.
“They forced the company to stop operations, chased away the staff, impounded some company items including two motorcycles which were taken to Abakaliki.
“The incident is the second in this February. They came first on Feb. 7, arrested 13 workers, took away two laptops and a truck load of lead ore and illegally sealed the premises.
“We pay our taxes to the Federal Government, but the state wants us to pay additional revenue which is against the mining act.
“The action of the state government against licensed and registered miners if unchecked can undermine the mining subsector.
“The Federal Government should move in and invoke relevant sections of the constitution and the Mineral Act 2007 to check the excesses of Ebonyi Government and other states interfering with mining operations in their areas,” Ahanotu said.
Nworie who led the team said that the task force was at the mining site to enforce state government’s ban on mining activities in the state.
She said that Ebonyi Government had directed mining companies operating in the state to register their companies in order to pay appropriate Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to the state in line with new mining policy.
She noted that Greenfield Metals Nigeria Limited was yet to comply with the directive, before reopening the site which was earlier sealed by the state government.
“We were at the site to enforce the current ban on mining operations in the state.
“The new mining policy requires mining companies to register with the state government so that government can be getting IGR from these companies.
“The ban is still in place and Greenfield Metals Nigeria Limited is yet to comply with the new mining policy and that is why the company was sealed, ” Nworie said. (NAN)
ODO /OU
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Edited by Obike Ukoh
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