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Anambra sand mining ban threatening 8,500 jobs, state revenue – Miners

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Unless the Anambra State Government urgently rescinds its decision, there are fears that over 8,500 river sand miners and their workers may have been displaced, while the state loses over N21 million weekly, following the banning of sand mining and sealing of all sandpits by the state government.

South-East PUNCH findings also showed that no fewer than 500 tipper drivers in Anambra State, working with river sand miners in the state, have transferred their services to other neighbouring states where sand is mined, following the Anambra State government’s ban on river sand mining activities.

The Anambra State government, had through a public notice, jointly signed by the Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Anthony Ifeanya; Commissioner for Environment, Dr Felix Odimegwu; Managing Director, Anambra State Solid Mineral Development Company Limited, Prof. Charles Ofoegbu, and Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof Sylvia Chika Ifemeje, directed sand miners in the state to stop all sand mining activities, pending their clearance by the Ministry of Petroleum and Minerals Resources and Ministry of Environment.

The notice also directed all the sand miners to register with the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, together with their dredging/mining equipment.

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The government claimed in the public notice that the sand miners are involved in illegal operations and other sundry offences that harm their host communities’ environment.

However, the sand miners denied and dismissed all the allegations levelled against them by the state government as not holding water, saying that all their operations and activities were approved and operational licenses issued to them.

They insisted that their activities were supervised daily by the Federal Ministry of Environment and Solid Minerals Development, together with the National Inland Waterway Authority.

They rather accused the state government of making frantic efforts since 2015 without success to take control of the Federal Government’s duty over them.

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The sand miners also presented to journalists all their operational licenses and receipts of all the payments they made to the Federal Ministry of Environment and Solid Minerals Development, and NIWA which authorised their sand mining activities.

Addressing journalists through their Chairman, Board of Trustees, Sir Christopher Mbaegbu, during their meeting in Onitsha, members of the Sand Miners Association of Anambra State, said they couldn’t have been operating in the state without approval from the Federal Ministry of Environment and Solid Minerals Development, and NIWA.

Mbaegbu described the ‘illegal operation’ allegation against them as an attempt to divert attention, intimidate and blackmail them, to take their job or cow them into submission by the state authorities for extortion of money from them.

He described the banning of all sand mining activities in the state and the sealing of their sand pits as counterproductive action that benefits neither the state government nor the sand miners.

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He said, “We are losing money, the state government is also losing millions of naira, it should be getting from us on a daily and weekly basis to the governments of neighbouring states, where sand mining activities are ongoing.

“We pay the Anambra State government N1,000 for every six cubics of tipper loaded with sand, while the state also gets N4,000 from each 10 tyres tipper that lifts sand in the state. More than 3,000 trips of sand are lifted daily from the sealed sand pits and beaches and the state is currently losing over N21 million per week for the ban it placed on sand mining and sealing of our sand pits in the state.

“The action of the Ministry of Petroleum and Minerals Resources and Ministry of Environment, banning our activities amounts to working against the government of Anambra State. We, therefore, urge Governor Charles Soludo to lift the ban without further delay, as it is not only against us and the state government but also has a chain reaction effect of halting all building activities by individuals and groups in the state.

He added, “Traders of building materials are also suffering a decline in their sales due to the halt in building construction because of the ban placed on sand mining activities in the state.

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“We think that if the state government wants us to assist in any way, which we have been doing through paying taxes, levies and other government-imposed duties, the wise step is not banning our activities. We can be operating while negotiating with the government on areas to contribute and assist the state.

“Banning our activities when we have two Federal Government agencies that supervised our activities, and at the same time calling us for negotiation and giving us conditions to meet before we could be allowed to operate in the state is infringing on our federal government given right. It is also placing the cart before the horse, the governor should call those behind this action to order.”

It was also gathered that the state government has given the sand miners conditions for clearance before they can operate, such conditions include registration with the state government through the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Jerome Udoji Secretariat Complex Phase II, Awka.

Other conditions are submission of completed form to the Mining Reforms Committee Desk at the Government House Awka, providing registered operational office in Anambra; evidence of company registration (CAC) documents; documented operation staff in Anambra State; valid title (Small Scale Mining Lease) or Mining Lease Quarry Lease, (Sand Quarry Lease) Title Grant; evidence of lease application to the Nigerian Mining Cadastra Office Abuja (where applicable).

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They are also to provide detailed geological reports with reserve estimation; mine design and production rate; EIA or Environmental Audit Report and EMP; and community development agreement; evidence of implementation of CDA and evidence of payment of mineral royalties to the Federal Government from where the state is paid 13 per cent derivation fund, as other requirements to meet before they would be allowed to operate in the state.

Earlier, the sand miners had through their lawyer, Ben Chuks Udoh, written to the Minister of Environment and Solid Minerals Development in Abuja, demanding clarification.

Udoh’s letter is also seeking clarification on whether there is any law that has divested the ministry of her authority in dealing with solid minerals development and the granting of mining leases, just as to know, following the directive of the Anambra State government to sand miners in the state, will in any way undermine the authority and position of the Federal Ministry of Environment and Solid Mineral Development.

The letter also wanted clarification on whether the Federal Ministry of Environmental and Solid Mineral Development was put on notice by the Anambra State government in connection with the letter/circular from the Anambra State Ministry of Information, banning all sand mining activities in the state.

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Udoh also wanted to know the official position of the Federal Ministry of Environment and Solid Mineral Development in connection with the directive of the Anambra State government.

He reminded the minister that the Anambra State government by its action deprived and denied the sand miners the capacity to be able to pay royalties due payable to the Federal Government, just as the ability to take care of their families in the face of economic realities.

The sand miners on their part wrote to the Managing Director of the National Inland Waterway Authority, complaining that the state government had entered into the Right of Way Permit it gave them, and kept harassing them through arrests of their members and have started collecting tolls on the Right of Way NIWA gave them, claiming that it is state land and not Federal Government’s land.

The letter which was signed by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Sand Miners Association of Anambra State, Sir Christopher Mbaegbu and the Secretary, Obiora Chukwuma, was copied to the NIWA Area Manager, the three senators representing Anambra state, the members representing Onitsha North/South federal constituency and his Ogbaru counterpart, also questioned if the Right of Way given to sand miners in the state still falls within the authority of NIWA, which is within the control of the Federal government.

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The letter further added, “It is on this note that we have to notify you that the very Right of Way permit that NIWA has continually been issuing to us and our members have completely been taken over by the Anambra State government and we urged NIWA to act fast.

“We wish to categorically state that the allegation that we are causing erosion is not true because we operate with River Craft Boat and Dredgers. The two pieces of equipment are movable, we can move from Anambra to Delta and Kogi State to bring sand into Anambra State. So the claim that our activities were causing erosion is a lie from the pit of hell.

“Our problem started on March 11, 2024, when Onitsha South Local Government Transition Chairman, Mr Emeka Orji, came with men of Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra State, OCHA Brigade, invaded Ose Ogbe Ijaw sand dumping site along Niger Street and after that, they continued invasion of other sites and then started destruction of the beaches and machines, claiming to be acting on the instruction of the governor.

“We have made several efforts to meet the governor through written applications and direct contacts but we have not been allowed to see him, All efforts we made to see the governor were blocked.

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“We are using this medium to appeal to Governor Soludo to lift the ban on sand mining in the state and call the river sand miners to a meeting. We are helping the state to stop crime in the state with thousands of unemployed youth who have been removed from the streets. Returning them to the streets with this ban on our activities is dangerous to the state.”

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Change Negative Narrative About EFCC Being Used For Settling Political Scores- Reps

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………Ask Anti Graft Agency To Fight Financial Crimes Within Established Laws

.
……My Staff Are Poorly Paid, EFCC

…., States Why Fight Against Yahoo Boys Fierce

 

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The House of Representatives has tasked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to purge itself from the negative impression that its being used to settle political scores and concentrate fighting financial and economic crimes within established laws.

The House handed the advise on Tuesday through the Chairman House Committee on Financial Crimes Honorable Ginger Onwusibe who led members of the committee on the 2024 oversight exercise on the commission.

The oversight covered extensive facility tour of departments and critical operational units of the antigraft agency.

In his terse remarks, Hon. Onwusibe challenged the agency to improve its operational activities in combating economic and financial crimes by complying with its 2004 Establishment Act and other relevant applicable laws like the Money Laundering ( Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022: Terrorism ( Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022: The Proceeds of Crime Act. 2022, as well as other statutes, that compels it to carry out these roles transparently with accountability and show that the negative maxim being peddled in some quarters that the agency is often being used for settling political scores is incorrect .

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The committee assured that it will collaborate with the commission to actualize its mandate by enacting new laws or amending old ones and as well providing budgetary interventions, if it must strive tirelessly to be on top of its challenges

The House urged the agency to collaborate with sister agencies and desist from keeping suspects as- awaiting ‘trial in correctional centres nationwide

“At this point let me add that a recent visit to the Maximun and Minimun Correctional centres in Kirikiri Lagos State, numerous suspects have been awaiting trial for over one year and yet we are all acquainted with the saying that justice delayed is justice denied”

” It is on this note that we call on the EFCC, Attorney General of the Federation and the Judiciary to improve and ensure the administration of justice works and is efficiently delivered to the victims”

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The House warned the agency to purge itself of rotten eggs in order to fight economic and financial crimes frontally, thereby stimulating the Nigerian economy

It also urged EFCC to focus properly on its mandate.

” The issue of appropriate and proper focusing on the mandate of the EFCC must relentlessly be on the front burner:

“Orders from competent courts , arrest and debt recovery must be pursued religiously” the House cautioned

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But on its side, the antigraft agency said it has not deviated from its focus but rather working hard and fighting financial and economic crimes as enunciated in its mandate.

Chairman of the agency , Ola Olukeyede told his guest in his remarks during the oversight visit that the commission was doing much to fight financial and economic crimes and stimulate the Nigerian economy

He said so far that the agency has recovered over N250bn cash, tens of million of Dollars and other foreign currencies, with over 3000 convictions: 17000 petitions while also investigating over 20000,with about 4000 fresh cases , all being handled by a misery number of staff strenght

He noted that its priority is to improve the country’s image and stimulate its economy, such that there could be improvement in foregin direct investments and stimulation of the local economy.
Olukeyede however, argued that the agency needed more staff strenght, funding , better renumeration for staff because they were poorly paid. He also emphasised on modern day technology to fight the ever dynamic cyber criminals

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According to the EFCC boss, it was important to give more salary to EFCC staff and deploy modern technology to fight emerging cyber crime dynamism . He expalined that the agency has increased efforts to fight Yahoo, yahhoo, boys because of their ability to crumble any economy within a twinkle of an eye

According to him, the agency was expanding its drag net to focus on ministries, departments and agencies infrastructural projects. ” “Go to MDAs and see their budget implementstion. It is not up to 20%”

“We want to ensure 50% infrastructural development” the anti graft boss announced, insisting that it would henceforth encourage monitoring of project implementation which was an aspect of preventing financial crimes

He said the agency has dismissed lots of erring staff, and will continue to dismiss and even prosecute them going forward.

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Olukeyede disclosed that it had designed a template on staff integrity, using the Gift- Policy model

.” It is not every thankful gift we should collect” the EFCC boss warned

” I am advocating for more welfare improvement, better welfare, he said.

“We will do more recoveries, more convictions, but we need more resources to do our work, maintaining that, that was his stand on ethics and integrity .

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Olokeyede’s demand for more salary wage for staff of the commission, is seen as an incentive to boost welfare and morale to fight financial crimes to standstill.

He stated that there was the utmost need to increase salaries of staff of the commission

The EFCC boss who spoke on his stewardship in the last one year, further added that it increased the war against Yahoo- Yahoo boys because of the consequences of their nefarious acts which could crumble a nation’s economy in a jiffy.

He argued that more technology was required to fight financial crimes.

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For instance he explained that it was a common scenario then for thieves and armed robbers to attack and break into banks with guns and Dynamites

” But it is the same common and more easier scenario and task now to have Yahoo-Yahoo boys and bank thieves attack banks with technology in the comfort of their homes or hideouts”

“So we need technology and we also need to increase our fight against these Yahoo boys who can dismantle any economy within a twinkle of an eye

He called on the national Assembly to improve and increase its finances because fighting Financial crimes was a herculean task that requires adequate funding

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Olokeyede who apparently was responding to criticisms of the commission’s over concentration on Cyber crimes/ thieves, perpetrated by Yahoo boys, said he has made tremendous impact in enforcement, investigation and conviction with an outstanding record convictions between October 2023 when he was appointed till date

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Trouble looming for Obaseki as Gov Okpebholo orders probe of his admin

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has ordered the setting up of a committee to probe the immediate-past administration of Godwin Obaseki for its failure to inaugurate 14 Edo Assembly lawmakers-elect into the 7th Assembly.

Okpebholo disclosed this while giving his inaugural speech as the new governor of the state.

Governor Okpebholo also ordered the State Chief Judge to immediately investigate the initial delay of former Governor Obaseki to inaugurate duly-cleared judges by the National Judicial Council (NJC) last year

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Naira may depreciate to N1,993 against dollar – Report

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Nigeria’s naira has been projected to depreciate further to N1,993 per dollar in the coming days.

This is according to BMI, a Fitch Solutions subsidiary report title, ‘Weak Naira and Structural Challenges to Constrain Nigeria’s Medical Devices Market Growth’.

The report said the forecasted depreciation will be predicated on the 95 percent dependence on imports for pharmaceuticals in Nigeria.

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According to the report, the development would erode both the health system and patient purchasing power.

“We expect that the naira will end 2028 at N1,993/$ from N306/$ in 2018.

“As the naira weakens, the cost of importing medical devices will continually increase, eroding both the health system and patient purchasing power, especially to invest in essential medical technologies given the underfunding of the public health sector,” the report stated.

This comes as Naira fell to N1681.42 and N1735 at the official and parallel foreign exchange markets on Monday.

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This comes as FMDQ FX transaction turnover dropped significantly from $1.4 billion on Friday to $471.5 million on Monday.

Last Thursday, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, said the country’s external reserves rose to $40 billion.

Despite Central Bank of Nigeria’s interventions and external reserves rise in the last months, the naira has continued to experience fluctuations in the FX market.

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