The Government of Ebonyi State says it has uncovered monumental fraud going on in the solid mineral sector in Ebonyi State.
Consequently, a statement by the
Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Ugbala Kenneth Igwe, Ph.D.
warned that no staff of Ministry of Solid Minerals and development communities is allowed to visit any quarry/mining sites or issue demand notice for payment of Internally Generated Revenue, IGR or penalties henceforth.
The Government also advised quarry operators and miners in the state to stop colluding with some unscrupulous elements in defrauding the state by not paying their IGR and adjusting their waybill to defraud state government and members of the public.
The statement further warned that, until the Ministry of Solid Minerals is reorganised and revived, no staff of the ministry should partake in the activities of the solid minerals of the state.
Meanwhile, Governor David Umahi has approved a special committee headed by the Chief of Staff, Chief Barr. Samuel Okoronkwo, Consultant on Solid Minerals, Mrs. Nwaka-ego Nworie and Mr. Obini Samuel Nwanze, to take charge of the activities of solid mineral in the state and to reorganise the sector.
All stakeholders in the mining sector are therefore advised not to take instructions from anyone except the Chief of Staff, the Consultant and Chairman, Board of Internal Revenue, Ebonyi State, forthwith.
“Ebonyi State Government is seriously warning that anybody who breaks these rules, by colluding with anybody to defraud the state government or individuals will have his/her quarries or mining sites sealed and C of O revoked.
“In the same vein, nobody is allowed to collect IGR in quarries and mining sites by cash. Anyone who violates this directive will face court action. Any quarry/ mining site sealed will henceforth be prosecuted accordingly.”
