Sand Quarry Owners Association, Edo State Chapter has called on both the federal and Edo State governments to work in synergy in addressing the current price differences in the Sand Quarry business in Edo state.
The leaders of Sand Quarry Owners Association, Edo State Chapter disclosed this to newsmen in Benin City.
The leaders of the Sand Quarry Owners Association said it is tired of being the underdogs before Tippers Drivers in Edo State.
They stated that tippers drivers who tip sand from the borrow pit are the ones that decide the amount to sell sand to the end users.
Edo state chairman of the Sand Quarry Owners Association, Mr. Joseph Enaruna said the situation is getting out of hand as the tipper drivers have made them go through hallowing situation in the built business.
He said they are responsible in buying or leasing the burrow pit, arranging equipment in excavating the sand, paying workers and taxes, and also settling the Drivers before they can work in their burrow pit.
He stated that they have not increased any price of tipping sand since 2018, but the tippers’ drivers have arbitrarily increased their price several times.
Earlier, the secretary of the Association, Mr. Otamere Omuwa Agbonta said the tippers drivers had him beaten up mercilessly with his car damaged on Monday 14 October, 2024 while driving out of his burrow pit in Benin.
He advised the public to disregard the media statement by the tipper Drivers over price increase, adding that they are tired of playing second fiddle to them as the tipper drivers tend to control their business.
Speaking, Edo state coordinator, Women ln Mining, Nigeria, Mrs. Enomamidobo Jennifer stressed the need for both federal and state governments to determine the price of tipping sand as the tipper drivers now put the high price of sand on the end users.
She expressed worry that tipper drivers now regulate their business as they also insisted that one trip of sand must be free for them if they make three trips a day.
In one of the instances, the Quarry Owners said they will sell 4 in 1 sharp sand to tipper drivers at N18,000, while the tipper drivers will sell at an exorbitant rate to the end users.
She added that the tipper drivers usually collect N12m from new Quarry Owners before they can move their tippers to the burrow pit for business.
However, some respondents have called on the relevant agencies of government, including the Department of State Service, the Police and other security agencies to intervene in the matter.