By Ugo Ewa
Amaeze community in Ishiagu, Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, has revoked its earlier consent granted to Mr. Joseph Nomeh for quarry operations on the Mboro-Ajayim land.
The decision, conveyed in a June 27, 2024 letter to the Director-General of the Mining Cadastral Office (MCO), Abuja, affects Quarry Lease No. 46327, which was issued to Nomeh in June 2023.
Chairman of the Amaeze Development Union (ADU), Ogbonna Nwaeni, told journalists in Abakaliki on Wednesday that the withdrawal followed Nomeh’s alleged transfer of the lease to another company without consulting the community or the landlords.
He alleged that despite assurances to deploy equipment and meet agreed community obligations after the licence was approved, Nomeh neither commenced operations nor fulfilled any commitments.
“The consent was issued after the company deceived the community into believing it had the financial and technical capacity for quarry operations,” Nwaeni said. “Since June 2023, neither he nor his representatives have been seen. The site remains dormant, and no projects have been executed.”
Nwaeni noted that the community had, on June 23, 2023, already written to the MCO to withdraw its consent before the lease was granted, in a letter jointly signed by traditional and landowners’ leaders. He expressed regret that the MCO proceeded to issue the licence despite the objection.
According to him, Amaeze will not allow Nomeh or any company linked to him, including Hephziba and Beulah Concepts Nigeria Limited, to operate on its land. At an emergency general assembly last week, the community reaffirmed Zotman Nigeria Limited (ZML) as its preferred operator for the Mboro-Ajanyim quarry site, citing the firm’s proven record in security and community welfare.
Nwaeni accused the Ishiagu Community Development Union (ICDU) of attempting to impose Hephziba and Beulah on the site under Quarry Lease Licence No. 46329QL. He warned that no Community Development Agreement would be signed with any company apart from ZML, stressing that the dormant site had become a hideout for criminals, including kidnappers and armed herdsmen.
He urged the ICDU leadership and other stakeholders to respect the landlords’ decision to avoid a breakdown of law and order.
A source at Hephziba and Beulah, who declined to be named, said the company planned to mobilise to the site at the end of the rainy season. Efforts to reach Nomeh for comment were unsuccessful, but a community source close to him alleged that he had transferred the lease to Hephziba and Beulah for full operations.