Environmental advocacy groups have given the thumbs up to the Nasarawa State House of Assembly for summoning Chinese firm – Multiverse Synee Mining Company Limited to appear before it on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, at the Assembly complex for questioning over mining impacts in Abuni community, Awe Local Government Area of the state.
The groups – Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN) and Citizens Free Service Forum (CFSF) – had petitioned the Nasarawa State House of Assembly through the Chair, Committee on Environment, Adamu Omadefu, on October 3, 2024, following a save-our-soul from locals.
The community had complained about pollution of the Rafin Jaki River and a host of other infractions including indiscriminate rock blasting and insensitivity to their plight after several complaints.
RDI, EDEN and CFSF had also met with Omadefu earlier this week requested that the Assembly 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, Mohammed Adamu Omadefu, the Chairman of the committee led other members of the committee to visit Multiverse Synee Limited mining sites in Abuni community, and Akurba, Lafia LGA respectively on Tuesday 26 November 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 that the Assembly wants to know what is happening in Nasarawa communities and will 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 Umar Shuaibu, the Youth Leader of Abuni, 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.
In a reaction to the summons on the firm, RDI Executive Director, Philip Jakpor, said: “We want to commend the Nasarawa State House of Assembly and particularly the chair of the committee on 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 minerals in the state, the people and the environment are not impacted negatively.”
Reacting, EDEN Executive Director, 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.”
Among a host of requests in the petition, the three organisations are calling for a comprehensive environmental audit of Abuni, Uke district and environs. They also want the government to revoke the mining license of any mining firm found wanting of breaching Nigeria’s environmental laws, and scrutiny of agreements reached between mining firms and traditional rulers in the mining communities.
