The House of Representatives Committee on Solid Minerals has issued a stern warning to quarry operators across the country, threatening to recommend the revocation of mining licences for companies operating illegally or ignoring official summons.
Chairman of the committee, Hon. Jonathan Gbefwi, who represents Keffi/Karu/Kokona Federal Constituency in Nasarawa State, gave the warning during an investigative hearing into the operations of mining firms in Nigeria.
Gbefwi directed two firms—Arab Contractors and Omatek—to either present valid documentation authorising their quarry activities or shut down immediately.
He condemned the conduct of some quarry companies who failed to respond to the committee’s invitations, describing their actions as a blatant disregard for Nigerian laws.
“It is unacceptable for companies to operate within Nigeria while disobeying extant laws and ignoring legislative oversight,” he stated.
The lawmaker also revealed that a recent oversight visit to multiple quarry sites within the Federal Capital Territory exposed widespread non-compliance, including failure to meet community development obligations.
He added that in many of the companies visited, only technical staff were present in Nigeria, while senior executives and managing directors—often foreign nationals, particularly from China—remained abroad.
