The Gbong Gwom of Jos, Jacob Buba, has appealed to the Federal Government to take land administration and reclamation as part of development of mining and mineral resources in the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that Buba made the call at the Ministerial Session of the three-day maiden edition of National Council on Mining and Mineral Resources Development in Abuja.
Buba, who spoke on behalf of traditional rulers of mining states/communities, said government should not trade mining for the health of the citizens.
“No matter how we develop the mining sector and we don’t handle environmental degradation and the health of people, it will amount to nothing.
“So, we need to look at the environment and people very well.
“When we want to work with government in the development of the mining sector, we may have to come out with proper land administration,’’ he said.
Biba emphasised proper land administration so that the country would not do away with agriculture in the course of mining.
“Otherwise, there will not be food because a lot of the problem happening today has to do with lack of proper land administration.
“If we don’t balance it very well, security will become an issue itself and I will appeal that we look at land administration problem.’’
Buba said reclamation had not been done properly in mining communities in the past and the government should not repeat the same mistake.
He said mining had affected a lot of mining communities in Plateau state as farm lands had been laid to wast, causing poverty and health problem.
“If what is happening in Jos is anything to talk about; so many years after the tin mines were closed, cancers were on the rise because environmental issues were not taken care of.
“If we don’t want that to continue, that means we need to strike a balance,’’ the traditional ruler said.
Buba called for effective implementation of the Mining and Mineral Resources Act and punish perpetrators of illegal mining.
He commended the Federal Government for stopping activities of illegal miners in a local government in the state.
“The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, in Wase Local Area in Plateau, halted all activities of illegal miners after the country had lost billions of dollars to them.
“Those responsible for that acts should be dealt with to serve a deterrent to others.’’
Earlier, the Minister of FCT, Mallam Muhamad Bello, said the theme of the meeting “Enhancing Mineral Resources Governance towards Economic Growth and Diversification’’, was apt to the diversification drive of the administration.
Bello said the theme was apt as the administration was determined to diversify the economy though mining.
“The sector was neglected in the past but we are going to go back to that era where the country was in the development of mining sector.
“We should also be mindful of the health impact while developing the sector,’’ he said.
In his goodwill message, UNIDO Representative to ECOWAS and Regional Director, Nigeria Regional Office Hub, Mr Jean Bakole, advised the Federal Government to provide geoscience data to guide investors and make them more confident.
Bakole, who was represented by Yomi Banjo, the UNIDO’s environment expert, said that government should formalise the small mining sector which accounted for 90 per cent of mining activities in the country.
“Land use Act should also be reviewed; this will eliminate conflicts and deal with other issues concerning ownership and use of lands,’’ he said.
The council is expected to approve memoranda of the five chosen thematic areas in the mining and mineral sector.