FG shuts quarries, others over fee default in Cross River

THE Federal Government has shut nine quarries and construction firms in Cross River State for failing to pay stipulated operational fees.

The firms, which were shut yesterday at the instance of National Environmental Standard Regulatory and Enforcement Agency (NESREA) are said to be depriving government of necessary revenue.

The Cross River Coordinator of NESREA, Mrs. Angela Iwobi, who led the enforcement team, decried non-payment of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) fees by the affected firms despite several reminders.
“We have written several letters to them to come forward and pay their mandatory EIA and EIS,” she said.

“The problem with them is that, they will refuse to pay until NESREA decides to seal their sites before you see them rushing to come and pay,” Iwobi added.