Reps Threaten To Revoke Licences Of Defaulting Quarry Operators

The House of Representatives Committee on Solid Minerals has threatened to cause the revocation of mining licences of companies operating quarries across the country for either operating illegally or failing to honour legislative summons.

Chairman of the committee and member representing Keffi/Karu/Kokona federal constituency of Nasarawa state, Hon. Jonathan Gaza Gbefwi, issued the warning at an investigative hearing into the activities of mining companies in the country on Thursday.

Gbefwi particularly ordered Arab Contractors and Omatek to either present all relevant documents authorising their quarry operations or shut down immediately.

The lawmaker expressed displeasure that several quarry operators had refused to honour the Committee’s invitations, describing their actions as a flagrant disregard for the laws of the land.

“It is unacceptable for companies to operate within Nigeria while disobeying extant laws and ignoring legislative oversight,” he said.

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The lawmaker said an oversight visit by the Committee to several quarry sites in the Federal Capital Territory exposed a deplorable state of affairs, particularly the failure of companies to fulfill their community development obligations.
He further disclosed that only technical staff reside in Nigeria in some visited companies, while their managing directors and senior executives, mostly foreign nationals, particularly from China, remain in their home countries.

“We welcome foreign investment in Nigeria, but we will not tolerate a situation where host communities are subjected to inhumane conditions and denied the benefits promised under signed agreements,” Gbefwi noted.

He further stated that Arab Contractors were found to be operating an illegal quarry site without securing the required approvals from relevant authorities.

The lawmaker warned that, beyond recommending the suspension of operational licenses for defaulting firms, the Committee may be compelled to push for the outright revocation of such licenses.