The Ebonyi State Government has introduced stricter regulations for quarry and mining companies operating in the state, directing operators to comply with environmental, safety and community development obligations or risk immediate sanctions.
The Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development, Chinedum Nkah, announced the new measures after a strategic meeting with quarry operators and industry stakeholders, saying the government is determined to promote responsible mining while protecting host communities and the environment.
According to the commissioner, the state will begin rigorous, unannounced inspections of mining and quarry sites from next week to ensure compliance with the new directives.
Nkah expressed concern over the large number of abandoned mining pits scattered across the state, describing them as serious environmental and public safety hazards.
“If you go around, you see abandoned mining pits everywhere after minerals have been extracted,” he said.
“There is no plan to recover the land. We all know the danger these uncovered pits pose to our people.”
He directed every mining company to submit detailed and practical pit recovery plans, warning that operators have two months to begin reclaiming and covering abandoned pits.
According to him, any company that fails to meet the deadline will have its operations sealed by the government.
The commissioner stressed that abandoned mining pits have already claimed lives and that the state will no longer tolerate the risks they pose to residents.
The state government also directed mining companies to fully implement their Community Development Agreements (CDAs) with host communities.
Nkah accused some operators of exploiting local communities by weakening agreements that are intended to deliver development benefits.
“Some companies take advantage of the ignorance of host communities by watering down community development agreements,” he said.
“This government takes those agreements seriously, and companies must see their implementation as a responsibility to humanity.”
As part of the new compliance measures, quarry operators have been instructed to submit updated Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports.
The commissioner explained that expanding blasting activities have increasingly encroached on residential areas, making fresh environmental assessments necessary to protect nearby communities.
Nkah also criticised poor welfare standards in parts of the mining industry, particularly the transportation of workers in unsafe vehicles.
“Some companies transport workers in vehicles that are not fit for human beings,” he said.
“That is unacceptable when these companies are making huge profits from our natural resources.”
He said the government expects mining companies to prioritise the safety and welfare of their employees.
To improve internally generated revenue (IGR) and curb illegal mining practices, the state government has directed operators to present evidence of renewed operational permits.
The government has also reiterated its ban on the unauthorised transportation of minerals during the night.
“The law is against night movement because it is one of the easiest ways mineral products leave the state without proper monitoring. We are going to enforce the law strictly,” Nkah warned.
He disclosed that the ministry will establish a specialised task force to monitor mining activities and ensure compliance with all regulatory directives.
Addressing concerns raised by residents of the Amokwe community, the commissioner announced that the state government had successfully facilitated a resolution between affected residents and a mining company whose blasting activities allegedly damaged homes in the area.
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A joint committee made up of representatives of the community, the mining company, the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, security agencies, the local government and the constituency office has been established to assess the extent of the damage.
According to Nkah, the company has accepted responsibility for the destruction and has agreed to rebuild the affected homes.
The company has also committed to employing more indigenes from the host community as part of efforts to improve community relations.
The commissioner reaffirmed that Ebonyi remains open to investment in the solid minerals sector but insisted that mining activities must contribute to sustainable economic development, environmental protection and improved living conditions for host communities.
He said the new enforcement measures are aimed at ensuring that the exploitation of the state’s abundant mineral resources delivers long-term benefits to the people of Ebonyi while protecting lives and the environment.