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By Zacchaeus Ozovehe.
In order to run an inclusive system where all stakeholders would have inputs in mineral exploration and exploitation activities, the Kogi State Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO) has concluded plans to engage in massive sensitisation programme across the three senatorial districts.
This was made known recently in Lokoja during the committee meeting presided over by the chairman of the committee, Hajia Hassiat Ozavize Suleiman.
The Chairman noted that there are still large numbers of undiscovered mineral deposits around the state especially in the hinterlands, where people at the grassroot level reside.
She further stressed that people at the grassroots should as a matter of patriotism notify MIREMCO which will in turn channel this information to the appropriate agency charged with the responsibility of streamlining mining activities in the state of any mineral deposit in their areas.
“We need to sensitise community heads and their representatives on their rights as host communities. Instead of accepting peanuts from mining companies who make millions, they could benefit more through corporate social responsibility of these companies.
“This is because mining companies are duty bound to sign Community Development Agreement where the host communities are entitled to social developments as stipulated in section 116 of the Nigerian Mineral and Mining Act, No 20 of 2008”, she revealed.
The issues of illegal mining activities, environmental degradation and pollution according to her, would also receive considerable attention in the course of the sensitisation exercise.
It would be recalled that Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee was established by the Federal Government and domesticated by the states to look into issues that border around mining and environmental management.
The committee is also empowered to entertain complaints and grievances by both mining companies and host communities with a view to solving them for optimal mineral exploitation activities.
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