The Commissioner for Solid Minerals and Natural Resources, Chidi Onyia, who led a joint taskforce operation to seal the companies, said the miners were given ample time to get their acts together and comply to the agreement, but failed. 'The companies were given enough time, since July last year, to meet the CDA requirements but choose to ignore the rules,' he said.
The Mining Act clearly states that every miner must prepare a CDA to benefits and uplift the community wherein they operate. But most mining companies in Ebonyi State have ignored this. This is against the dictates of the state and we won't take anymore. “The land belongs to the people. And even though these companies have leases from the Federal Government, they must ensure the communities benefits from their operations.