Ebonyi govt. orders mining companies to stop operations in Afikpo communities

By Uchenna Okeh

Ebonyi state government led by governor Francis Nwifuru has as a result of the

incessant complaints and petitions against some Mining firms in Afikpo Local Government Area by landlords and host communities, ordered for the immediate stoppage of mining operations in the affected areas.

The State Commissioner for Mining and Solid Minerals Development, Chidi Onyia gave the directive while addressing representatives of a Chinese Mining Construction Company and Woda Mountain Construction Company both operating in Amasiri, Afikpo Local Government Area in his office in Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi State.

Onyia however, insisted that no mining exploration and activities should continue in the affected areas until the firms properly entered into a Community Development agreements with Ihie and Ezeke Autonomous communities both in Amasiri Local Government Area of the State.

He gave a seven-day ultimatum to the three Mining firms in Afikpo and Amasiri communities to comply with the directives otherwise they will risk their operation in the said communities.

The commissioner, Onyia further said that “that WODA Mountain, Amasiri’s purported Community Development Agreement, CDA (Lease agreement) with the host community is null and void and therefore, neither ANLI Mining Investment Limited nor WODA Mountain should carry out any mining operations in Afikpo without the involvement of the key stakeholders from the host communities.”

He therefore directed the affected Companies to cease operations in the host communities until the processes of re-engaging the host communities were perfected.

Earlier in his address to the stakeholders of Ukpa Community and ANLI Mining Investment Limited, the Commissioner also nullified any agreement purported to have hitherto existed between the firm and the host community.

“That the purported Community Development Agreement (lease agreement) entered into between Anli Mining Investment Limited and Ukpa Community in Afikpo Local Government is null and void and therefore nullified by the Ebonyi State government.

The Ebonyi State government through the Ministry of Solid Mineral Development is deeply interested in the execution of meaningful projects in line with provisions of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007 and the Mining Regulations Act, 2011 in Afikpo for the benefit of the host communities.”

The Commissioner therefore insisted that: “that Anli Mining Investment Limited must sign a proper and fresh CDA with the representatives of the land owners, village host communities, Traditional Rulers and the representatives of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development communities” he stated

The Commissioner also constituted a Projects implementation Committee that consisted of the Company representatives, land owners representatives, community representatives and the government’s representatives. “There shall be two CDAs for which one will represent the interest of Ukpa village, Ohaisu community, Ezi Akani Land Owners and the other representative for the interest of their maternal families”, he maintained.

The Commissioner also informed that henceforth, “any scholarship from Anli Mining Investments Limited must be strictly supervised and monitored by the Ebonyi State government to know the actual beneficiaries and their individual identities.

Onyia disclosed to the stakeholders of both the host communities and the firms that the Federal Government is very careful about mining operations.

“We didn’t say go and kill the company or strangle the company, but we have to follow the procedures. And sometimes, we feel pity for these companies but let me tell you this. None of these companies make less than 500 million naira monthly. I am not trying to incite you against the company but just telling you the truth” he stated.

Earlier in their speeches, the representatives of Ihie and Ezeke in Amasiri Autonomous community led by the State’s Commissioner for Tertiary Education in the State, Amari Omaka, Mr. Sunny Ike Ogbonnia and Godwin Elekwa among numerous stakeholders, all took turns to bare their minds on the sad dealings between the Mining Companies and their communities.