The Ebonyi State Government has shut down four mining companies for failing to comply with the Community Development Agreement (CDA) guidelines. The CDA mandates that mining companies contribute to the development of the communities they operate in.
Led by the Commissioner for Solid Minerals and Natural Resources, Hon. Chidi Onyia, a joint taskforce carried out the closure. Onyia noted that the mining firms had been given ample time since July last year to meet the CDA requirements but failed to do so.
The affected companies include: Anli Mining and Investment Ltd, China Solid Rock 1 and 2 (Ngodo Amachi, Afikpo LGA), Shenglong Mining (Eziulo, Ishielu LGA)
At China Solid Rock 2, which is operated by a Chinese company, at least ten local workers lost their jobs due to the shutdown. Onyia made it clear that the closures would remain in effect until the companies fully comply with the state’s directives.
“The Mining Act is clear — every miner must prepare a CDA that uplifts the host community,” Onyia stated. “Many mining firms in Ebonyi have blatantly ignored this, and we will no longer tolerate it.”
Shenglong Mining faced additional scrutiny, with Onyia calling its CDA “fraudulent,” citing that the company only contributed one million naira annually to the community, a figure far below what other companies offer.
The state government vowed to continue monitoring mining activities and promised more shutdowns for any companies that violate the law. Anli Mining’s General Manager, George Li, has since pledged to cooperate with the state to resolve the issues.
