From left: (Sitting) Comrade Bomoi Mohammed, Deputy Executive Director, Citizens Free Service Forum (CFSF), Honourable Jonathan Gaza Gbefwi, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Solid Minerals Development, Philip Jakpor, Executive Director, Renevlyn Development Initiative (Behind) Chidi Ugwu, Managing Editor of Timesreporters Online, Tobias Dapam Lengnan, Renevlyn Development Initiative Board Member and Comrade Alagoa Morris, Deputy Executive Director Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN)
…As State Assembly Summons Firm Over Site Impacts
By Chidi Ugwu
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A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), have proposed amendment of National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) Act, to enable it also cater for the protection of both the environment and host communities of the mining communities.
This was part of suggestions offered to Hon. Jonathan Gaza Gbefwi, House Committee Chairman on Solid Minerals, and member House of Representatives representing Karu/Kokona Federal Constituency, when representatives of the civil society organizations visited the lawmaker earlier in the week.
The coalition, comprising the Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), the Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN) and the Citizens Free Service Forum (CFSF), the Committee Chairman to submit a petition on the state of mining in the state which was jointly signed by the heads of the CSOs, detailed activities of mining in and the impact on the affected environment in Nasarawa State.
In his response, Hon. Gbefwi while thanking the group promised to look into the petition and initiate required actions to ensure that the environment is protected and all activities are being carried out within the ambits of the law.
He assured that machinery would be set in motion to begin research into the existing laws and possibly begin processes for finding the appropriate name for the proposed bill, noting that further meetings would be held with the group to fine tune idea.
Meanwhile, the Chairman House Committee on Environment in the Nasarawa House of Assembly, Honourable Adamu Omadefu has summoned Multiverse Synee Limited to appear before the State Assembly over the company’s mining sites in Abuni community, and Akurba, Lafia LGA respectively.
This followed a similar petition submitted to the State Assembly through the Chairman House Committee on Environment in the Nasarawa House of Assembly.
The groups – Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN) and Citizens Free Service Forum (CFSF) had petitioned the Nasarawa State House of Assembly through the Chair, Committee on Environment, Honourable Adamu Omadefu on 3 October 2024 following a save our souls from locals.
The Civil society groups have commended the Nasarawa State House of Assembly for its prompt actions.
The community had complained about pollution of the Rafin Jaki River and a host of other infractions including indiscriminate rock blasting and insensitivity to their plight after several complaints.
In a swift response to the request, Hon. Mohammed Adamu Omadefu, the Chairman of the committee led other members of the committee to visit Multiverse Synee Limited mining sites in Abuni community, and Akurba, Lafia LGA respectively on Tuesday 26 November 2024 where they inspected the environment and informed the firm that the committee was there to ascertain if the company fulfilled all the constitutional requirements to work in the state.
Hon. Omadefu said that the Assembly wants to know what is happening in Nasarawa communities and will not allow what is happening in oil bearing communities of the Niger Delta to happen in Nasarawa State.
He also heard from community youths including Umar Shuaibu, the Youth Leader of Abuni, who expressed disappointment with the company for failing to fulfill all the agreement reached with the community on provision of roads, electricity, scholarships and a hospital, among others.
In reaction to the summons on the firm, RDI Executive Director, Philip Jakpor said:
“We want to commend the Nasarawa State House of Assembly and particularly the chair of the committee on environment, Hon. Omadefu for the pro-activeness in inviting the firm accused by locals of violating their environment. We are determined to continue working with the Nasarawa State government in ensuring that in the extraction of lithium and other minerals in the state, the people and the environment are not impacted negatively”
Reacting, EDEN Executive Director, Chima Williams said:
“This feat is not only commendable. We encourage Hon, Omadefu and indeed the entire Nasarawa State House of Assembly to remain steadfast because we know there are big shots backing the illegality that the House is now confronting. We promise our sustained support for this course”
In a similar vein, CFSF Executive Director, Comrade Sani Baba said:
“The Nasarawa State House of Assembly acting through the committee on environment has sided with the people in the decision to stop the environmental crisis in Abuni and other parts of Nasarawa. We commend them and urge them to refuse any form of intimidation in forcing the mining firms to behave responsibly. Anything short of this is a time bomb”
Among a host of requests in the petition, the three organisations are calling for a comprehensive environmental audit of Abuni, Uke district and environs. They also want the government to revoke the mining license of any mining firm found wanting of breaching Nigeria’s environmental laws, and scrutiny of agreements reached between mining firms and traditional rulers in the mining communities.
