Ebonyi Shuts Down Four Mining Companies for Violating Community Agreement

Ebonyi State Seals Four Mining Companies for Non-Compliance with Community Development Agreement

The Ebonyi State Government has taken a strong stance against mining companies that fail to contribute to the development of their host communities. On Wednesday, four mining companies were sealed off for non-compliance with the terms of the Community Development Agreement (CDA) in the state.

The CDA is designed to ensure that mining companies contribute to the development of the communities in which they operate. However, the Commissioner for Solid Minerals and Natural Resources, Hon. Chidi Onyia, explained that the affected companies had been given ample time to comply but failed to do so.

The Commissioner led a joint task force to seal off the companies, which are Anli Mining and Investment Ltd, China Solid Rock 1 and 2, located in Ngodo Amachi in the Afikpo Local Government Area, and Shenglong Mining, located in Eziulo in the Ishielu Local Government Area.

According to the Commissioner, the sites will remain closed until the companies comply with the state government’s directives. “The people of Ebonyi are being treated as if they have no value,” he stated. “The Mining Act clearly stipulates that every miner must prepare a CDA to benefit and uplift the community in which they operate. We will no longer tolerate companies disregarding this.”

He further criticized one of the site operators, labeling its CDA as fraudulent. “The agreement presented by Shenglong is fraudulent,” he said. “There are clear procedures and templates for developing a CDA. How can a company of this size justify the community’s sole benefit as being one million naira annually?”

Onyia assured that the state government would continue to monitor mining activities to ensure that all companies follow the law, warning that any company found breaking the rules would be shut down.

What do you think about this development? Leave your comments below!