Reps Warn Quarry Companies: Obey the Law or Lose Your License

By Gloria Ikibah

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The House of Representatives has warned that it may push for the cancellation of licenses belonging to quarry companies that are either operating without proper approval or ignoring official summons.

This warning came from Rep. Jonathan Gaza Gbefwi, Chairman House Committee on Solid Minerals.

Rep. Gbefwi who represents Keffi/Karu/Kokona federal constituency of Nasarawa State, gave the warning during a hearing on the operations of mining companies in Nigeria.

He called out Arab Contractors and Omatek specifically, telling them to either bring forward the documents that show they are legally allowed to operate or shut down their sites.

The Committee Chairman expressed concern that many quarry operators are not taking the Committee seriously by refusing to attend hearings, which he described as disrespect for Nigerian laws.

“It is unacceptable for companies to operate within Nigeria while disobeying extant laws and ignoring legislative oversight,” he said.

The lawmaker said an oversight visit by the Committee to several quarry sites in the Federal Capital Territory exposed a deplorable state of affairs, particularly the failure of companies to fulfill their community development obligations.

He further disclosed that in many of the companies visited, only technical staff reside in Nigeria, while Managing Directors and senior executives—mostly foreign nationals, particularly from China—remain in their home countries.

“We welcome foreign investment in Nigeria, but we will not tolerate a situation where host communities are subjected to inhumane conditions and denied the benefits promised under signed agreements”, Gbefwi noted.

He added that Arab Contractors was found to be operating an illegal quarry site without securing the required approvals from relevant authorities.

The chairman warned that, beyond recommending the suspension of operational licenses for defaulting firms, the Committee may be compelled to push for the outright revocation of such licenses.