A High Court sitting in Effraya, Etung local government area of Cross River State has granted a motion ex-parte disbanding the state Cocoa Allocation Surveillance Team from operating at the Government Cocoa Estate.

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The court restrained the team from harassing allottees of government cocoa farms in Etung local government area of the state.

The order came five days after the Bassey Otu administration issued a statement suspending the activities of surveillance team at the cocoa estate in the state.

The court headed by Justice Amajama Eneji, after the proceedings yesterday, adjourned the matter for augment on May 23, 2024 after a counter affidavit to the motion on notice and statement of defence was filed by counsel to Cross River State government, Barr. Woda Ogar.

In a brief interview with journalists at the court premises at Effraya, counsel to Cross River State government, Wada Ogar, said, “I just came today to find out that there were 27 others recently filed.

“The ex-parte application was all taken today and had been variously adjourned to May 23, 2024 for hearing of the motion on notice. But what I came here for were suit no. HA/16, 17 and 18, 2024 which have been served on me and I have filed my responses.

“Well, it is the allegation of the claimants that some hooligans are taking over the plots over which we are in court, harassing the people and all that.

“That is why in the first place, they brought an application ex-parte to restrain those people and then they alleged that, surveillance committee set up by government was being used to perpetrate illegalities, because of that, the court made another ex-parte which had gone viral” Woda said.

Meanwhile, counsel for the claimants, Mba Ukweni (SAN), averred that he and his clients (claimants ) came to court to take a motion for interlocutory injunction to restraint government and its agents, her appointees from interfering with allottees of government cocoa farms.

“So, we were served with their counter affidavit yesterday but, my learned friend for the defendant was gracious enough to bring to the attention of the court that from which ever perspective whether the government was not aware of the pendency of the matter made by the court which they have or from other sources for other reason decided that they should disband the taskforce which my colleague brought to the attention of the court.

“We had to leverage on it and said if the government itself have now discovered that the activities of the members of the taskforce and the people they are using to harass people in the estate is illegal, the court should give a stamp of legal authority to that and restrain them.

“So, the court agreed with both of us and has made the order which is as good as an interlocutory injunction. it is an order of court restraining them so, the status quo remain parties have to continue with what they are doing.

“The people who had been allotted estate cocoa farm have to continue with the allocation because that is the status quo.

“As at January, they have already been led into possession so, they have to be in possession and do their work. It doesn’t have to be disturbed; work does not have to be disturbed by any person at all,” he said.

When asked to explain what would happen in the eventuality of disregarding the court order, Ukweni said, “If they disrespect the court order, the law is not limited in what to do, they will be sanctioned.”

The Nigerian government has indicated an intention for an upward review of mining licence rates and other sundry fees payable by mining operators in the country.

The minister of solid minerals development, Dr. Dele Alake, who announced this during a consultative meeting with stakeholders in the mining industry, stressed the imperative of the review to boost the capacity of the government to effectively reposition the mining sector.

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In a statement by Segun Tomori, the minister’s special assistant on media, on Thursday, Alake enumerated efforts being made to reposition the mining industry, and revealed that asides from on-going reforms, the federal government was sanitizing the mining environment through the newly unveiled Mining Marshals, which he affirmed had been conducting operations in parts of the country to protect legitimate miners and combat illegal mining.

He solicited the support of stakeholders for the impending increase in fees for mining licenses and other sundry fees, and added that this move had become inevitable if government was to effectively fulfil its obligations of providing an enabling environment for mining operations whilst also raising more revenue for government.

“For us to continue to ensure that we secure the mining environment and keep putting in place measures that will ease the operational difficulties and challenges that confront miners, we need to review the rates of mining licenses and other sundry fees. We felt that we can’t just do this without letting you know because, invariably, you are the players in the industry,” the minister added.

On the recent revocation of dormant mining licenses, the minister noted that the government followed due process and extant laws guiding the action, emphasizing that a 30-day restitution window still exists for the affected operators.

The minister had recently announced a restitution fee of N10m, N7.5m, N5m and N2.5m for mining leases, small scale mining licenses, exploration licenses and quarrying licenses, respectively, for the revoked dormant licenses.

The same rule applies to those earlier revoked for default in payment of annual service fees.

In his submission, the director-general of the Mining Cadastral Office, Engr. Obadiah Nkom, who also chaired the fees review committee, stated that the committee recommended new rates that were affordable and will enhance the competitiveness of the fiscal regime of the mining sector in comparison with regional and global standards.

President of the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), Dele Ayanleke, who spoke on behalf of the stakeholders, commended the minister for his efforts to put the mining sector on the global front burner, expressing support for ongoing reforms and plans to review fees payable by operators.

He urged the minister to consider challenges faced by miners and ensure the rates are affordable.

Other stakeholders in attendance were representatives of Women In Mining (WIN), Gemstone Miners Association (GMA), top officials of the ministry and a host of others.

Oyo State government and Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG) have signed an agreement to develop a gas supply and distribution infrastructure that will deliver gas to industrial and commercial users in the state.

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In the agreement, Shell will build and operate the gas distribution network, which will serve customers across Oyo State, for 20 years.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, described the project as “a catalyst for development in the state.

“This project fits into our plan to drive innovation and industrialization in Oyo State and we’re ready to partner with more companies and other organizations to enhance the delivery of relevant projects.”

Managing director of SNG, Ralph Gbobo, said the agreement was “a significant milestone for SNG and Oyo State to boost economic activities in Nigeria by supplying industries and manufacturers with natural gas, a more reliable, cost-efficient and environmentally friendly source of energy.

“The gas distribution project will be a game-changer in the industrialization drive of the Oyo State government and help boost internally generated revenue and result in more job opportunities.

“For SNG the project is a milestone in our effort to continue growing the energy supply to businesses in Nigeria in line with Nigeria’s ambition to drive progress on the back of natural gas availability across Nigeria under the Decade of Gas initiative.”

Managing director of the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd and chairman, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Osagie Okunbor said, “This event points to the value of partnership as Shell continues to power progress in Nigeria through more and cleaner energy solutions for commercial and industrial customers.

“Building on our presence in the country since the 1960s and the wide marketing and trading reach of Shell Energy, we are excited about developing gas distribution solutions and delivering competitive and reliable energy for power generation and industrial use across Nigeria.”