The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has passed into Second Reading A Bill for a Law to Provide for the Regulation and Control of Issuance of Land Consent and Community Agreements to Mining Entities by Mining Communities and other Matters Related Thereto.
The House had reconvened on Tuesday, the bill seeking to regulate and control the issuance of land consents and community agreements to mining entities by mining communities sponsored by member representing Kokona East constituency Hon. Daniel Ogazi took the centre stage as it was slated for second reading.
The Speaker of the House Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau announced this during the House proceedings in Lafia. He said the House was taking measures to regulate the issuance of mining consents by traditional and community leaders to mining companies in the state in order to address conflicts and other negative issues surrounding the process.
The sponsorof the bill Hon. Daniel Ogazi gave the substance of the bill calling on his colleagues to support it to see the light of the day.
He spoke extensively on the benefit and impact of the bill to include maintenance of peace and unity in mining communities, ensure that mining consents are regulated and given through approved authorities, benefits of the host communities and security of lives and properties of the people among others.
While supporting the bill to scale second reading, the lawmakers who spoke Rt. Hon. Muhammad Oyanki the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Suleiman Azara the House Leader, Hon. Hajarat Danyaro, Hon. Baba Ali, Hon. Ven-Bawa, Hon. Musa Ekye, Hon. Solomon AKwashiki, Hon. Musa Gude, Hon. Onarigu Kana and Hon. Muhammed Omadefu observed that Nasarawa State is a seat base of mineral resources.
They however observed that there is insignificant impact where foreign miners are shortchanging the state, saying if the bill sees the light of the day, mining communities will develop and insecurity will be curtailed.
The also advocate the full involvement of Ministries of land and survey, that of environment and the judiciary in agreements with the miners and the host communities as well as an outlined of percentage of funds for the development of the mining communities.
The Speaker referred the bill to the House Standing Committee on Environment to do a thorough job considering the importance of the bill and report to the House 14th of October, 2024.