Miners, accuse NSCDC of harassment over illegal levies in Edo
Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), Edo State chapter, has accused the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) of harassment The group, in a statement, accused NSCDC of extorting royalty
- NSCDC: prove your allegation
Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), Edo State chapter, has accused the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) of harassment
The group, in a statement, accused NSCDC of extorting royalty payments on pulverised mineral materials.
According to the statement, the Acting Chairman of MAN, Alhaji Fatai Jimoh, said at their Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Auchi, that they had been subjected to intimidation and exploitation by NSCDC operatives, particularly through the deployment of special marshals to monitor trucks transporting solid minerals.
Jimoh stated that the enforcement had created problems in the sector, adding that the fees were unjustified.
“The deployment of special marshals to check trucks conveying solid minerals has resulted in undue harassment and extortion of our members.
“The contentious issue of royalty payment on pulverised dolomite was addressed by the state executives, and the matter is receiving due attention from the minister of Solid Minerals Development,” he added.
But the NSCDC’s spokesman, Efosa Ogbebor, denied the allegations. He challenged the miners to provide evidence of extortion, insisting the Corps had not received any complaints.
“Some misguided elements may impersonate NSCDC personnel, but if miners have credible evidence, they should come forward,” Ogbebor said.
Jimoh also said the association was working to resolve controversies surrounding marble royalty, noting that studies had shown minerals found in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area were more accurately classified as calcite rather than marble.
The chairman said they were making efforts to have the Federal Government classify and gazette calcite as well as explore affordable and sustainable energy alternatives to reduce costs for miners.
He quoted the Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Mining, Mrs Omoruyi Ese Martina, calling for more collaboration between the ministry and miners.
Martina said: “We are a regulatory ministry, and we should be working with the association to develop mining in Edo.
“We are committed to putting in place laws that will guide mining activities and ensure the sector thrives.
A mining expert, Akinbowale Akinro, said mining contributed 4.61 per cent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), with Edo ranking fourth in national solid minerals output.
In a paper titled, ‘Nigerian mining industry: Challenges and opportunities, Akinro, an engineer, however, identified illegal mining as a major challenge to the operators.
“Illegal miners bear none of the operational, environmental, and tax burdens licensed operators carry, thereby creating unfair market disadvantages,” he said.
Also, the AGM Chairman, Sunny Ifijen, sought unity for miners, and that extortion, arbitrary levies, and power shortages are limiting growth.
