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By Yusuf Abubakar.
Senator Atai Aidoko Ali (Kogi East) has expressed dismay over series of meetings between his colleagues at the lower House of the National Assembly, state lawmakers and ETA Zuma on the complaints by Okobo community on the operations of ETA Zuma.
Aidoko made his reservations known during his interaction with media men in Abuja on Friday.
He stated that the complaints of inhuman conducts of ETA Zuma, miners of coal in Okaba community was first exposed by him during a meeting with the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Kayode Fayemi.
He recalled his visit to the communities of Okaba, Odagbo and Okobo were coal was been extracted and protested the attitude of the company for not considering corporate social responsibility as a corollary to their operations in these areas.
According to the senator, during the visit, he observed dilapidated and non-motorable roads, absence of pipe borne water, lack of electricity supply and other infrastructural deficiencies in the area.
“Having accessed the dearth of these essential facilities, I made efforts to summon the management of the company and also made a formal threat to the minister who promised to redress the widening anomaly and misconduct against these communities,” he said.
Aidoko commended the efforts of his colleagues both at the state and national assemblies, saying his consent and invitation would have extracted more commitment from the company, not minding the political and personal differences. He said he deserved to be informed as the senator representing the area.
The Federal lawmaker expressed regrets over the plight of the communities where the natural resources were been explored in commercial quantities. He said the host communities deserve better lives.
“I have made necessary inputs in SDG projects this year to ensure provision of some of these social facilities that are lacking in the area, particularly construction of primary health care centre and construction of some primary school blocks.
“I am not unaware of the earlier meetings convened between the communities and the lawmakers along with the miners, but it is important for us to redirect some of our projects to help uplift these vulnerable communities.”
He advised the federal lawmakers to create an enabling environment for synergy in handling the plight of the people in these areas with a view to finding a lasting solution rather than politicising the people’s welfare.
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