313 mining companies sanctioned by the Federal Government

     No fewer than 313 mining companies have been sanctioned by the Federal Government over non fulfillment of environmental obligations.

    Salim Salaam, Director, Mines Environmental Compliance Department, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development disclosed this in Abuja, saying that the mining operators were issued sanction letters on March 20 for failing to conduct Environmental Impact Assessment, Environmental Protection and Rehabilitation Programme and the Community Development Agreement.
   He said that four of the mining companies affected were given `stop work’ order, licenses of five companies’ were out rightly revoked and 20 companies were issued warning letters.
  Meanwhile, the ministry had decided not to renew licenses of the remaining 284 mining companies, except the Minister, Dr Kayode Fayemi give them another chance to fulfil all environmental requirements.