City News • Created September 20, 2018 01:59

MIREMCO sensitises Bwari community on mining and quarrying

The Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO) has organised a sensitisation meeting between miners and host communities in Bwari Area Council. The FCT Mines Environmental Compliant Officer and a member of the committee from the Ministry of Mines and Steel, Engr. Osseini Enoch Ukwenya, said the meeting was to ensure harmonious relationship between the […]

MIREMCO sensitises Bwari community on mining and quarrying
MIREMCO sensitises Bwari community on mining and quarrying

The Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO) has organised a sensitisation meeting between miners and host communities in Bwari Area Council.

The FCT Mines Environmental Compliant Officer and a member of the committee from the Ministry of Mines and Steel, Engr. Osseini Enoch Ukwenya, said the meeting was to ensure harmonious relationship between the operators and the host communities.

In a statement, Osseini admitted that there was bound to be disagreement between the operators and the host communities, which he believed was subject to negotiation as mining affects every community, including displacement.

“Displacement should bring about compensation to the owner of the land as the land may not be useful to the owner for a long time even after mining activities,” he said.

Engr. Osseini called on mining operators to be responsible to the community where they were operating, adding that the committee was doing everything to ensure that no operator mined in any community without a Community Development Agreement (CDA), which he said was very critical to the ministry.

In his remarks, the Etsu of Bwari, HRH Ibrahim Yaro (JP), commended the ministry for constituting the committee which he hoped would bring about peace and sustainability between the operators and the host communities. He pointed out the need for the committee to always copy him, as the paramount ruler, when issuing licenses to operators within his domain.

The Chairman, Bwari Local Government Area Council, represented by the Head of Administration of the council, Mr. Mohammad Musa Loko, appealed that the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act of 2007 be amended to assign critical roles to the local government since issues relating to the host communities were under its purview.

 

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