By Israel Adamu, Jos
Trimmadix Geomin Consult Nigeria, a mining company operating in Nasarawa State, has expressed dissatisfaction over the recent disruption of its operations and the arrest of one of its staff members by state government officials.
The incident occurred at the company’s mining site in Amba Kure, Kokona Local Government Area, when the Nasarawa State Commissioner of Environment and Solid Minerals, accompanied by security personnel, allegedly accused the firm of illegal mining and detained its site manager.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the company’s Managing Director, Engineer Tim Eldon, refuted the allegations, describing the state government’s actions as unjust and harmful to its reputation.
“We were shocked by the arrest of one of our managers, although he was released the same day after preliminary investigations,” Eldon said. “We were further surprised by claims from the commissioner that we are operating without the consent of the local community or state government.”
Eldon stated that Trimmadix Geomin Consult Limited possesses all the necessary federal approvals and licenses to operate at the site. He emphasized that mining activities fall exclusively under federal jurisdiction, as stipulated in Nigeria’s Constitution, and accused state officials of overstepping their legal authority.
“It is deeply regrettable that officials of the Nasarawa State Government, particularly the Commissioner of Environment, have unlawfully issued mining licenses to Chinese nationals to operate on the same site for which we hold legitimate federal licenses,” Eldon added. “This action is a clear violation of federal laws.”
Eldon also reiterated that the company had secured requisite clearance from the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development before commencing operations and called for an end to what he described as “a calculated attempt to smear the company’s image.”
However, Nasarawa State Commissioner of Environment, Yakubu Kwanta, defended the government’s actions, insisting that the firm was engaged in illegal mining.
“The company failed to secure the consent of the local community and did not follow legal procedures required to operate a mining site,” Kwanta told our correspondent. “The revocation of their activities is in line with existing laws to protect the interests of the community.”
The ongoing dispute highlights the tension between federal and state authorities over mining regulation, raising questions about jurisdiction and the enforcement of mining laws in Nigeria.
