Kogi State House of Assembly has directed the state’s Commissioner of Police to shutdown all the mining sites in Ankpa and Olamaboro local government being operated by Dangote mining company.
The House also directed the State Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp, (NSCDC) to ensure that the directive was implemented with immediate effect pending when the company clarifies issues on its operations in the state.
Speaker of the House , Matthew Kolawole gave the directive during a public hearing organized by the assembly’s adhoc committee on internally generated revenue of Kogi state.
The House of Assembly has earlier invited Dangote cement company, Dangote mining company, Zuma coal mining and Mogra enerji limited for an interface on the need for the companies to pay loyalty to the state government and rendering of corporate social responsibility to the host communities.
The Speaker who expressed dissatisfaction over the activities of some mining companies in the eastern part of the state, pointed out that Dangote mining company has failed in its responsibility of reclaiming the land, providing basic social amenities to the community.
According to him, the public hearing became imperative following environmental degradation caused by mining activities of the Dangote mining company and other companies working at the coal sites in Okaba, Awo in Ankpa local government area of the state.
He said the companies have been making billions of naira and causing environmental damages to the state but failed to give back to the state from what they were generating.
The Speaker however directed the Companies to appear before the adhoc committee on Monday next week and urged them to come along with necessary documents and receipts.
The External Solicitor of the Dangote cement company, Liman Salihu, appealed to the committee to give them more time to prepare adequately in defense of questions raised by the committee.
