The Ebonyi State Government, on Thursday, sealed Sino Chino Ltd company operating in Ishiagu, Ivo Council Area of Ebonyi State over evasion of Community Development agreement.
Umahi, who decried the alleged neglect of host communities by the extractive industries noted that such does not have a place in Ebonyi State under his watch calling on both parties to close ranks for the overall benefits of all concerned.
Recalling how foreign companies have run roughshod on the people, he said kidney and liver failures are all as a result of the environmental pollution and other health hazards done by most companies who, in most cases fail to carry out environmental impact assessment before beginning productions.
According to report, for many months, the Ishiagu community has been embroiled in civil disobedience over the refusal of the Chinese firm to sign pact with the host communities.
This neocolonialism has subjugated many communities with the natural resources pillaged leaving them with deleterious environmental pollution.
The crises snowballed and attracted the governor’s attention who, on Thursday sealed the firm and ordered the piqued youths to sheath their swords pending the signing of the agreement which a drafting committee has been set up.
It is imperative to note that both community, security chiefs and the company are all in alignment with the decision of the government which they described as apt and timely intervention which will save all concerned lots of stress caused by misunderstanding.
Those present at the company’s site were: Dr Kenneth Ugbala , the Secretary to the State Government, Commissioner for Information, Barrister Uchenna Orji; Senior Special Assistant on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Chief Enekwachi Akpa; Special Assistant on Mineral Resources, Chief Edwin Onwe
Other traditional rulers present were: Eze Moses Ngele, Eze Lawrence Chukwu and others.
