The Upper Chamber equally
urged the Minister to ensure adoption of safer mining methods by mining
concerns.
Senate yesterday summoned
the Minister of Solid Minerals, Kayode Fayemi to appear before it in plenary to
deliver a brief on its mining roadmap, implementation framework and how it
intends to ensure protection of the resident of mining host communities.
Senate also mandated its
committee on Environment and Solid Minerals to visit the affected communities
to ascertain the level of damage done and report to the senate.
The resolution of the
Senate followed a motion sponsored by Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos West) and
four other senators, on the “ Update on lead Poisoning in Zamfara State and the
need to prevent further propagation of the resources curse theory”
The senate further directed
its committee on Environment to investigate the activities of the Ministry of
Environment as it affects the mining sector.
Debating on the motion,
Senator Tinubu expressed worry that, even though mining is yet to make economic
impact, symptoms of the resources curse have begun to be evident particularly
in the communities blessed, or cursed if you will, with these natural resources
and mineral ore.
She said the senate
received with great distress, updates on lead poisoning which occurred in 36
villages and communities in Zamfara State.
“Observed that besides
Zamfara, mining host communities in States like Kogi, Niger etc. have also been
affected by the negative effects of mining practices;
“Notes that Nigeria does
not qualify as a mining state. The 2016 Gross Domestic Product breakdown shows
the mining sector’s contribution to the nation’s GDP to be abysmal;
“Further notes that the
nation’s mining sector is almost redundant, that the Honourable Minister of
Solid Minerals, Dr. Fayemi, is working to resuscitate the sector; and that the
Ministry has approved a mining road.
“Further worried that if we
do nothing, we may be on our way to creating a ‘Niger delta’ situation except
on a larger scale as nearly every state of the federation will be affected
“ Mindful that these
environment abuses negate and breach the rights of citizens to life, dignity of
person and other fundamental rights as enshrined in the constitution of the
federal republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended)”
In his contribution,
senator Magnus Abe (Rivers Southeast) urged the senate to make use of the
opportunity to address the situation before what happened in the Niger Delta
repeat itself.
“This is how the situation
in the Niger Delta started and the communities paid for it, because there are
no roles in the country that governing mining of minerals.
“The institutions are weak
and ineffective and some time we have the institutions running over themselves
doing the same thing and the communities suffered for it.
“ we have use this
opportunity to set it right before it get out of hand and before we have
another Niger Delta situation in this country “
In his remarks, the deputy
Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, said the senate must pursue it mandate by
putting thing right.
“We are aware that a lot of
illegal mining is going on and we must set things right”
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