Miners in Kwara State have been charged to adhere strictly to the law guiding their operations and coordinate their activities so as to guard against polluting and degradation of the host communities’ land.
The Chairman, Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO), Engr Idris Abubakar Garuba who gave the charge in Ilorin, during a sensitisation programme, urged the miners not to derail from the implementation of Social and Environmental Impact Assessment for the benefit of the host communities .
The Chairman, who expressed reservations over the activities of miners in the state, advised them to adhere strictly to the law guiding their activities to ensure the safety of their host communities.
He further explained that his committee was established to ensure development and exploitation of mineral resources in a sustainable and orderly manner.
Garuba added that the committee is shouldered with the responsibility of promoting harmonious working relationship between mining companies and host communities.
He, therefore, advised the host communities to report any act of non compliance to the implementation of programmes for environmental protection and sustainable management of Minerals resources to the committee for necessary action.
Also in his remarks, the Officer-in-Charge of the Federal Ministry of Steel and Mine in Kwara State, Engr Henry Bolarinwa, shed more light on the responsibilities of the committee, explaining that its presence ย would attract and encourage investment in mining in the state.
He added that the responsibilities of the committee include; deliberate on issues relating to conflict and disagreement arising from implementation of social and environmental impact assessment among others.
