By Adedapo Adesanya
The Port Harcourt Branch of the Miners Association of Nigeria has sought the intervention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to curb the activities of illegal mining and extortion in the state.
The association made the call when its Chairman, Mr Hope Daminabo Dan-Opusingi, led members on a courtesy visit to the Acting Director for the Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, Mr Adebayo Adeniyi.
Mr Opusingi lamented the alleged harassment and extortion of registered miners in the state by some unscrupulous state government actors, whom he claims often shut down their mining sites and impound their equipment without any legal backing.
He further observed that while there are numerous mining companies operating in the state, only a few, he said, were licensed and implored the EFCC to swing into action against the illegal mining companies.
“Most of the mining companies are not authorized, they do not even have a licence or any kind of authority from the federal government. They are here, operating illegally and causing confusion in the mining sector. The EFCC among other agencies is a member of the Presidential Tax Force on Mining that was set up by the federal government in 2019,” he said.
Responding, the Acting Director, Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, Mr Adeniyi, represented by ACE I Ude Nkechi Rita, thanked the association for identifying with the Commission and assured them of a swift response
Mr Adeniyi also assured that the EFCC will not only enforce the laws against illegal mining but will also enlighten members of the association through workshops on the laws governing activities in the sector to enable them to guard against extortion and harassment.
“I appreciate your courtesy visit. We have heard all you said and thankfully enough, we now have a committee on illegal mining which is currently handling a lot of matters on illegal mining,” she said.
Also speaking, EFCC Head of Illegal Mining Task Force, Mr Adamu Alhassan, assured of his team’s readiness to sanitize the mining sector and sought the cooperation of the association.