Governor Nwifuru and the miners during the meeting. | Image: Nweze Anaga
.Says you must cover your mining pits, remit royalties, other levies to govt
By Nweze Anaga,
Abakaliki
Ebonyi State Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru has expressed sadness over miners’ negligence of duties in the state and therefore warned them to always close mining pits after exploration to prevent loss of lives and properties.
The governor also attributed dwindling revenue accruing to the state from the Federation account to failure of solid mineral operators to remit royalties to the Federal Government.
He made his feelings known when he received officials of the Consolidated Lead and Zinc Miners Association in his office.
The governor, who lamented that activities of the miners were contrary to Federal Mining Act, warned that the state would no longer tolerate non-remittance of royalties and other levies and the inability of the miners to cover their pit after exploration.
“It is unfortunate that most of you are in the habit of not remitting necessary levies to both the government and host communities and this action is inimical to our progress as a state.
“Most of you smuggle our minerals out of the state around 2am just to escape payment of necessary levies; and that has to stop because no matter at what time, we must intercept you this time around and you will face the full wrath of the law.
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“You are under obligation to cover your Mining pits after exploration. We have incidences where our people lost their lives. To me it is negligence on the part of the miners. Recall that our youth Leader lost his life in one of the mining pits along Ikwo road and it was a painful experience to all of us,” the governor said.
The governor however pledged to provide conducive environment for mining operations in the state.
Besides, the leader of the delegation, Mr Merit Nwachukwu, had said that they were interested in forming synergy with the state government in order to attract investors.
