An indigenous mining firm in Nigeria on Friday decried the undue interference in their operations in Nasarawa State by the state government.
According to the mining firm, the state government’s interference was crippling mining operations in the state.
Addressing a press conference in Jos on Friday, the Managing Director of Timadix Geomin Consult Limited, Tim Eldon, called on the Federal Government through the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Oladele Alake to call the Nasarawa State Government to order in the interest of justice
Eldon noted that the undue interference in the operations of the company by agents of the Nasarawa State government and a Chinese company had crippled the activities of the businesses at its mining sites in the Kokona Local Government Area of the state.
He explained that Timadix Geomin Consult acquired all the necessary licenses and followed due processes before it began its operations in the local government, but was surprised at the recent developments that led to the suspension of its operations in the area.
“We therefore need urgent intervention in this regard. Having acquired exploration licenses in 2022 and invested heavily in lithium exploration, the resource was discovered early in 2024, and suddenly some state and non-state actors developed an interest in acquiring the concession.
“As such, our operation was disrupted and consequently shut down in March 2024 by the Nasarawa State Commissioner of Environment without any prior notice or justification. To our surprise, a Chinese company suddenly appeared from nowhere on the concession without our knowledge or that of the natives who own the community.
“When we asked the natives, they told us that they knew nothing about the sudden appearance of the Chinese but only saw them placing beacons all over the community under the supervision of a Chinese company. It is equally being alleged by the natives that their lands are being sold out without their consent, “Eldon said.
The Managing Director who called for the immediate suspension of Chinese activities on the concession and conducted a thorough investigation of the matter, expressed disappointment that an indigenous company with the requisite licenses could be treated in such a manner.
According to him, indigenous mining companies with requisite licenses and other requirements need to be protected and accorded deserved consideration in the scheme of things instead of giving special recognition to foreign companies in the sector.
He said, “I want to say categorically that we at Timadix Geomin Consult have our exploration license on this matter duly signed by the Director General of the Nigeria Mining Cadastral Office. We view this ugly development as a ploy to deny us our legitimate rights. Since we started our operations in this community, we have carried out quite a lot of social responsibility in line with the policy of our establishment. We have no problem with our host community.”
Eldon therefore appealed to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development to, as a matter of urgency, intervene and save the indigenous company from oppression, adding that it has all the papers to back up its claim
