Mining: Ebonyi govt. warns against sharp practices on social responsibility

Nabob Ogbonna, Abakaliki

The Ebonyi State Government has warned host mining communities against the diversion and mismanagement of funds meant for development and empowerment to indigenes of host mining companies in the state.

This came following the observation of some sharp practices on social responsibility on the side of the mining firms to host communities, essentially in Ameka autonomous community, Ezza South local government area of the state where lead mining is ongoing.

Nkah, who observed some protests raised by some indigenes in that area, insisting that all benefits accruing from Community Development Agreements (CDAs) must be transparently accounted for and delivered to their intended beneficiaries.

The commissioner stated that the government would no longer tolerate a situation where mining companies made payments to a handful of community leaders without disclosing the amounts or their intended purposes to the wider community.

According to him, “the CDA framework is designed to address longstanding complaints that mining communities were deprived of the benefits of mineral exploitation by mining firms.

“In the past, mining communities were cheated and ripped off. We want communities in Ebonyi State to begin to benefit from companies mining in their areas. That is the essence of the CDA,” Nkah explained.

He added that the ministry had directed mining companies to notify the government before making presentations to host communities, stressing that such transactions must be conducted openly and documented.

Nkah, however, cautioned the leaders of Ameka community against announcing scholarship beneficiaries or making commitments without following the prescribed verification and approval procedures, adding that the ministry had not received the scholarship list before the ceremony and would therefore not validate any proposed number of beneficiaries until the necessary consultations and checks had been completed.

The presentation from the mining company offered N20 million earmarked for scholarships, N10 million for apprenticeship and skills acquisition, N5 million for the Ameka women’s August meeting and 10 motorbikes for Ameka security outfit.

Chairman of the Ameka Community Development Agreement Implementation Committee, Mr Chibueze Uguru, said the committee had worked to promote peaceful mining operations and ensure compliance with the agreement between the community and the company.