The Ebonyi House of Assembly (EBHA) has summoned quarry companies operating at the Ezza-Inyimagu quarry pit in the Izzi Local Government Area of the state over alleged illegal operations.
This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Egede Sylvester, the Assembly’s Public Relations Officer, and made available to journalists in Abakaliki on Tuesday.
The statement quoted the chairman of the Committee on Solid Mineral Development, Mr Ifeanyi Nwakpu, calling on the companies to appear before it on Thursday.
Nwakpu, who represents the Ikwo-North Constituency, maintained that companies should explain why they operate without signposts, names, and registration.
He also said that the companies should explain why they must enlist school-age children in the neighbouring villages to work with them without safety guards.
Therefore, the committee ordered the immediate closure of the illegal companies until they comply with the state government’s mining and safety laws for quarries.
In another development, Nwakpu also visited China Geo Engineering Company (CGC) in the Area and commended its management for providing safety equipment for its workers.
He urged all the quarry companies in the state to emulate CGC to improve the safety of their workers.
A member of the Committee, Mr Friday Ogbuewu, representing Ezza-South Constituency, said the visit was the committee’s statutory duty to protect the interests of the company, the host community, and the government.
CGC’s manager, Mr Titus Dominic, appreciated the committee’s visit and informed them that the company had complied with the mining laws.
