3 Companies Clash Over Mining Site In Nasarawa

Crisis over ownership of a mining site is currently brewing among prospective mining companies in Nasarawa State, necessitating the intervention of the State House of Assembly.

LEADERSHIP had recently reported how investors were scrambling for abundant lithium deposits, a highly reactive metal used in energy-dense rechargeable batteries used in cell phones, electric vehicles and grid storage in the state.

Lithium is mostly found in Karu and Nasarawa local government areas of the state with investors sinking millions of hard currencies in its exploration.

Our correspondent gathered that conflict started over a site in Endo community, Udege, Nasarawa local government area of the state.

They affected companies include Zurfi Mining, Harrick Global Investment Nigeria Limited and Feiya Mining Company.

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The three companies claimed to possess “Mining Consent” for the disputed area, “Guarantee Mining Site” allegedly issued and signed by community leaders.

However, the Osu Endo (village head of Endo community) claimed he only issued consent letters only to Feiya Mining, one of the companies in conflict.

Following a petition on the development, the State House of Assembly ‘s committee on environment headed by the majority leader, Mr Mohammed Adamu Omadefu visited the site and community to ascertain the facts.

 The leader of the committee decried indiscriminate issuance of mining approvals by community leaders, while urging them to desist from such act.

Speaking on the development on Tuesday in Lafia, Mr Omadefu said two companies, Zurfi Mining Company and Harrick Global Investment Nigeria Limited, are currently working on the disputed site despite the clarification by the community leader that none of the duo were issued the consent letter to operate.

“We have seen things for ourselves and heard from the Endo community that they have given mining consent to Feiya Mining Company, not any other company or companies.

“The Endo community said that Zurfi Mining Company and Harrick Global Investment Nigeria Limited received  their mining consent from Odu district instead of Endo community under Onda district, “ he said.