The Ebonyi State Government has unveiled a tougher regulatory framework for the solid minerals sector, warning quarry and mining companies operating in the state to comply strictly with environmental, safety and community development obligations or face sanctions
The Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development, Chinedu Nkah who spoke after a meeting with quarry operators and stakeholders led by Chief Chikaodili Ojimba, said the state government would immediately begin inspections of mining sites to ensure full compliance with existing mining regulations and operational standards.
He said the administration was determined to reposition the sector by protecting host communities, safeguarding the environment and boosting internally generated revenue from mining activities.
According to him, the ministry will commence an inspection tour of all quarry sites across the state next week, with every operator expected to present a comprehensive pit recovery plan.
"If you go around, you see abandoned mining pits everywhere after minerals have been extracted. There is no plan to recover the land. We all know the danger these uncovered pits pose to our people. Every company must show us, in detail and in practical terms, its pit recovery plan," he said.
The commissioner stressed that companies would no longer be allowed to abandon mined-out sites, warning that operators who fail to commence reclamation after an agreed timeline would have their operations shut down.
"We will give them a timeline, not more than two months, to begin covering abandoned pits. Any company that fails to comply will be sealed. These pits have claimed lives and we cannot continue to allow that," he stated.
He also directed all mining firms to comply fully with Community Development Agreements (CDAs), noting that many operators had failed to adequately fulfil their obligations to host communities despite generating substantial revenue from the state's mineral resources.
"Some companies take advantage of the ignorance of host communities by watering down community development agreements. This government takes those agreements seriously, and companies must see their implementation as a responsibility to humanity," he added.
The commissioner further ordered operators to provide updated Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports, saying mining activities such as blasting had continued to expand and required fresh environmental evaluations to protect nearby residents.
He equally raised concerns over the welfare of quarry workers, condemning the use of unsafe vehicles and poor working conditions.
"Some companies transport workers in vehicles that are not fit for human beings, while others provide no transportation at all. That is unacceptable when these companies are making huge profits from our natural resources," he said.
On revenue generation, the commissioner directed all operators to produce evidence of renewed operational permits, warning that failure to regularise documentation amounted to denying the state legitimate revenue.
He also announced a crackdown on the illegal movement of mineral products at night, describing the practice as a major avenue for revenue leakage.
"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," he said.
To sustain compliance, the commissioner disclosed that the ministry would establish a task force to monitor mining operations and enforce government directives across the state.
Responding to complaints from residents of the Amokwe community over alleged structural damage caused by blasting activities, he revealed that the government had brokered an agreement with the affected company to rebuild damaged houses and employ more indigenes from the host community.
"We have constituted a committee comprising representatives of the community, the company, the ministry, security agencies, the local government and the constituency office to assess the affected buildings. The company has accepted responsibility and will rebuild the damaged houses. It has also agreed to employ more people from the host community," the commissioner said.
He reaffirmed the Ebonyi State Government's commitment to ensuring that the exploitation of the state's abundant solid mineral resources translates into sustainable development, environmental protection and improved welfare for host communities.
