Deputy Executive Director, Citizens Free Service Forum (CFSF), Comrade Bomoi Mohammed (left); Executive Director, Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), Philip Jakpor; Chairman, Committee on Environment, Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Hon. Adamu Omadefu; RDI Board Member, Tobias Lengnan Dapam and Deputy Executive Director, Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN), Comrade Alagoa Morris during a meeting with Omadefu in Abuja
By Edu Abade
Environmental advocacy groups have commended the Nasarawa State House of Assembly for summoning a Chinese firm-Multiverse Synee Mining Company Limited to appear before it, today, at the Assembly Complex for questioning over mining impacts in Abuni Community, Awe Council of the state.
The groups, Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN) and Citizens Free Service Forum (CFSF) had earlier petitioned the Nasarawa State House of Assembly through its Chairman, Committee on Environment, Hon. Adamu Omadefu on October 3, 2024 following a save our souls (SOS) from residents.
The community had complained about pollution of the Rafin Jaki River and other infractions being caused by mining activities including indiscriminate rock blasting and insensitivity to their plight after several complaints.
RDI, EDEN and CFSF had also met with Omadefu earlier this week and requested that the House carry out a fact finding visit to the community as well as Uke District where similar environmental challenges were being faced by the locals due to illegal mining.
In a swift response to the request, the lawmaker led other members of the committee to visit Multiverse Synee Limited mining sites in Abuni Community and Akurba in Lafia Council on Tuesday, November 26, 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.
Omadefu said the House of Assembly wanted to find out what has been happening in Nasarawa communities, insisting that they would 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 the Youth Leader of Abuni, Umar Shuaibu, 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.
Responding to the summons on the firm, Executive Director of RDI, Philip Jakpor, commended the Nasarawa State House of Assembly and particularly the Chairman, House Committee on the 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 solid minerals in the state, the people and the environment are not impacted negatively,” he said.
Also reacting, Executive Director of EDEN, Barrister 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.”
In their petition, the groups demanded a comprehensive environmental audit of Abuni, Uke district and their environs, among other requests.
They also urged the government to revoke the mining license of any mining firm found wanting of breaching Nigeria’s environmental laws, as well as a thorough scrutiny of agreements reached between mining firms and traditional rulers in the mining communities.
