AN indigenous mining firm in Nasarawa State, Timadix Geomin Consult Limited, has alleged that the state government was unfairly disrupting its operations despite possessing a valid licence.
According to a report, the firm’s managing director, Tim Eldon, disclosed this at a press briefing on Friday, June 14, and sought the federal government’s intervention on the issue.
“Having acquired exploration licences 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,” the firm said.
Eldon noted that the firm’s mining operations were shut down by the government and a Chinese company took over without prior information.
He called for the suspension of mining activities by the Chinese company and expressed concern that Indigenous institutions were treated unfairly in favour of foreign institutions.
“I want to say categorically that we at Timadix Geomin Consult have our exploration licence 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 said.
He appealed to the Minister of Solid Mineral Development, Dele Alake, to intervene in the dispute, adding that indigenous mining firms should be protected by the government.
The ICIR contacted Ibrahim Addra, the chief press secretary to the state Governor Abdullahi Sule over the allegations.
Addra told The ICIR that he had contacted the state’s Commissioner for Environment, Yakubu Kwanta, over the issue and there would be a response in the coming week, after the Sallah holidays.
Nasarawa is one of the states with large deposit of lithium in Nigeria.
The federal government commissioned the nation’s largest lithium processing plant in Nasarawa State in May.
During the commissioning, President Bola Tinubu said the plant could produce four thousand metric tonnes of lithium daily, and provide job opportunities for youths in the state.
Ijeoma Opara is a journalist with The ICIR. Reach her via vopara@icirnigeria.org or @ije_le on Twitter.