Nigerian miners have called for the federal government’s quick action on the issue of compensating the quarry company whose land and premises was taken over for the construction of the new correctional facilities at Karshi, a border community between the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja and Nasarawa State.
The miners under the aegis of Mining Entrepreneurship Stakeholders (MES) made up of stakeholders and workers at Nino Corporation Ltd, the owner of the quarry company, stated that such action was urgent in order to enable the company excavate, move and relocate to another site as suggested by the Federal Ministry of Interior.
The organisation at a press conference yesterday at Merit House, Abuja, under the theme “Appeal for Federal Government’s Quick Action on the Demand for Compensation over takeover of our Land and Business Premises”, said such a move would help them pay off the burden of loans and accumulating interests over the investment.
In his address at the press conference delivered by the publicity secretary of the organisation, Mr Elijah Elims, the chairman of the organisation, Alhaji Aminu Sani Inuwa, stated that, the land and business premises in question belongs to “a quarry company operated by Nino Corporation Ltd for which some of our members have stakes, many others run businesses of supplies, transportation services, marketing, mechanical and engineering services, sales, among others.
“On this note, therefore, we want to passionately appeal to the Federal Government through the Ministry of Interior and Nigeria Correctional Service to consider the sufferings that families and dependents of investors and workers in the quarry company have been experiencing since the past four years, and the burdens of interests on loans on the company, and take urgent measures with a view to addressing our demand for full compensation.
“This is also hinged on the fact that the quarry site conceded to the Federal Government’s argument about the precedence of national interests, especially on national security matters”, he stated.
He however added that, “For the quarry to safely relocate, it will need allocation of another site. Besides, all the equipment is extremely sensitive that requires expatriates, engineering and computer experts to move, excavate, convey and install at another site”.
Alhaji Inuwa therefore acknowledged “the patriotic efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari to tackle the challenges of securing Nigeria’s Correctional facilities by approving and funding the construction of ultramodern correctional facilities in the country, including the FCT, Abuja.”
“We also want to appreciate the dispositions and efforts of the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Shuaibu M. Belgore and the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Nababa, at ensuring that, the quarry is fully compensated in good time,” he stated.
