Mining Act: Oil host communities’ ignorance breeding miners’ exploitation – Group

Chinedum Treasure

Global Rights Nigeria has identified ignorance of oil mining host communities on the provisions of the Mining Act and the Community Development Agreement as major factor responsible for increasing exploitation by miners.

Executive Director, Abiodun Baiyewu stated this on Monday while declaring open a 2-day training for journalists on Mineral Governance and Host Community Rights in Nigeria.

The training, supported by Ford Foundation attracted over 40 journalists drawn from print and electronics media organizations across the country.

Baiyewu argued that the host communities would be better equipped to demand for their rights when they were adequately enlightened.

She described media, family and the school as critical partners in entrenching cultural value, saying the training was targeted at arming the media to drive the conversation around responsible and sustainable mining.

She said, “it is the vision of the organization to entrench a culture of human rights, in a sustainable manner across communties in the country.

“What we are doing is to put the lives of these vulnerable communities in your hands to save.

“Today, the Chinese are exploring and ferrying away our minerals, while damaging the land, disrespecting and assaulting people of the host communities.

“I therefore want to urge the participants to take the programme seriously, so as to drive the desired change we want to see.”

Programs Manager of Global Rights, Edosa Oviawe, in his presentation on understanding mining, highlighted the numerous benefits of mining to include job creation, economic diversification, skills training improved infrastructure, among others.

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