Quarry Operators Task On Safety of Miners in Ebonyi

The Committee chairman on Solid Mineral Development and member representing Ikwo North in Ebonyi state House of Assembly, Ifeanyi Nwakpu has expressed worry over the nonavailability of safety gadgets at some of the quarry sites located in the state.

The lawmaker also faulted the refusal of some site owners to pay the Internally Generated Revenues and most importantly their refusal to provide social responsibilities to its host communities. He said that it is high time for all the quarry operators to reciprocate the good gestures of the State Governor, Francis Nwifuru who has provided them with peaceful environment, thereby, adhering to the mining laws of the state.

Nwakpu, who maintained that if all the necessary laws were kept by the quarry companies that they would see the positive yields as the host communities would be ready to be at their service. The Chairman made these comments when the committee paid oversight function visit to some quarry sites in Ishielu Local Government Area of the state. Speaking, during the committees visit of Idike Engineering Company Ezillo, Mr Nwakpu frowned at the non compliance to miming laws by the workers including wearing of safety gadgets and sign posts and directed the management of the company to do everything possible to correct the situation or be made to face the wrath of the law. Also visited, the jing Zang Quarry Ezillo, the committee chairman, Nwakpu commended the management for thier compliance to mining laws as workers were seen on thier uniforms and the relationship between them and their host community was cordial. Other sites visited are Top Trust ( Sino) Quarry Company, Shang Long Mining Investment and Forever Chim Company, where Hon Nwakpu told the management that the visit was not to witch-hunt them but to know where they needed help and expressed satisfaction on thier operational standard, urging them to improve on it. On their parts, the Managing Director of Jing Zang Quarry Ezillo, Mrs Lucy Gao Jinmes and the General Manager, Top Trust Quarry Company, Mr Cletus Onoja appreciated the committee visit and said that the company has been encouraged by the committee on issues concerning the payment's of both Internal Generated Revenue and social responsibilities and pledged to always pay thier Internally Generated Revenues and hope to continue in such way.