The House of Representatives Committee on Solid Minerals has warned it will recommend cancelling the mining licenses of companies running quarries across the country if they are operating illegally or ignoring official invitations from the committee.

Chairman of the Committee, Jonathan Gbefwi, representing Keffi/Karu/Kokona issued the warning at an investigative hearing into the activities of mining companies in Nigeria.

He specifically ordered Arab Contractors and Omatek to either present all relevant documents authorizing their quarry operations or shut down immediately.

Gbefwi, who represents Nasarawa State, expressed displeasure that several quarry operators had refused to honour the Committee’s invitations, describing their actions as a flagrant disregard for the laws of the land.

“It is unacceptable for companies to operate within Nigeria while disobeying extant laws and ignoring legislative oversight,” he said.

The lawmaker said an oversight visit by the Committee to several quarry sites in the Federal Capital Territory exposed a deplorable state of affairs, particularly the failure of companies to fulfill their community development obligations.

He further disclosed that in many of the companies visited, only technical staff reside in Nigeria, while Managing Directors and senior executives, mostly foreign nationals, particularly from China, remain in their home countries.

“We welcome foreign operators in Nigeria, but we will not tolerate a situation where host communities are subjected to inhumane conditions and denied the benefits promised under signed agreements.”

He added that Arab Contractors were found to be operating an illegal quarry site without securing the required approvals from relevant authorities.

The lawmaker warned that, beyond recommending the suspension of operational licenses for defaulting firms, the Committee may be compelled to push for the outright revocation of such licenses.