By Oscarline Onwuemenyi

The Federal Government has warned quarry operators in the country to abide by the safety provisions of the Minerals and Mining Act, or face withdrawal of their licenses.

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In line with this, it has directed all quarry operators in the nation’s mining sector to submit all their operational plans in line with the safety rules and regulations of the human beings and the environment in compliance with the Nigeria’s Minerals and Mining Act, 2007.

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Musa Mohammed Sada, gave the directive during an assessment visit to Dantata & Sawoe Construction Company and Gilmor Engineering Nigeria Limited, both in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

He directed owners of the affected quarry plants to submit their operational plans, which the Federal Government would assess and come up with general agreements on the way to move the sector forward.

According to the Minister,  ‘’We are interested in the process of operations in the plant, so by the time we get those documents, we will sit down with you and discuss and then we will have some general agreements on the way to move forward.”

Sada  disclosed  that  most  of  the  companies  had  been  operating  their  quarry  plants  before  the  enactment  of  the Mining  Act  2007,  adding  that  the  meeting  will  provide  an  opportunity  for  better  understanding  of  the  issues  involved  in  quarry  activities.

The Minister has recently embarked on assessment visits to quarry plants within and outside Abuja recently, to assess their level of compliance with the stipulated rules and regulations of the nation’s mining operations.

He noted that he would meet major quarry operators in Abuja, and beyond to discuss operational  issues  including  exploitation plan,  plan  for  operation,  respecting  the  plan  for  operation  in respect  to  safety  of  human beings  and  the  environment, and issues around Environmental  Impact  Assessment, EIA.

“We are also interested in knowing what  is  to  be  done  at  the  various  quarry  sites  after    operation,  streamlining  of  issues  to  move  the  sector  forward,” Sada noted.

The  Minister  reiterated  that  construction  of  residential  buildings  close  to  quarry  sites will  not  be  allowed  because  it  is  dangerous  to  human  life.  Consequently,  he  advised  that  such  instances  should  be  brought  to  the  knowledge  of  the relevant  government  agencies  by  the  quarry  operators  for  necessary  actions.

Sada further told journalists that his Ministry  was  putting  in  place  the  necessary  legislative  frame work  for  sustainable  mining  and  the  environment.,  in  line  with  best  global  practices  for  the  maximisation  of  our  mineral  resources  in  the  country.

On  the  issue  of  good  road  network  to  facilitate  operations,  the  Minister  disclosed  that  the  Federal  Government  was  already  planning  to  do  something  about  that  infrastructural  challenges  in  the  Minerals  and  Metals  sector.

The owners of the quarry plants assured the Minister that they would satisfy the necessary requirements for them to operate in the country.

The  quarry  sites  of  the  companies  visited  include : Julius  Berger  Nigeria  Plc,  Crushed  Rock  Nigeria  Limited,  Setraco  Nigeria  Limited,  Arab  Contractors,  P.W. Nigeria  Limited,  which  are  all  located  at  Mpape  in  Abuja.