Plateau Assembly Worries over Hazardous Effects of Mining in Residential Areas

The Plateau State House of Assembly has expressed grave concerned over the increasing trend of processing Tin, Columbite, Monoxide, and other solid minerals within residential communities across the state.

At a plenary on Tuesday, Hon. Danty Laven, member representing Pankshin South drew the attention of the Assembly through a motion of urgent public important where he said a survey reveals that there are over 1000 tin processing shades located within residential areas in Jos North Local Government Area alone. That includes other Local Government Areas where such hazardous activities are ongoing in residential environments.

He said that the continued mineral processing in residential areas constitutes a public health emergency, endangers lives, and contravenes existing environmental and public safety laws.

In his motion, Denty urged the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Federal Ministry of Environment, and other relevant agencies to immediately enforce regulations prohibiting mineral processing in residential areas.

He also urged the House to mandate the Committee on Solid Minerals, Environment to conduct an urgent investigation into the impact of such activities on affected communities and recommend appropriate remedial actions.

Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Naanlong Daniel while commenting on the motion after contributions from other lawmakers, said due to the hazardous effects of such mining on humans, there is urgent need to act immediately to protect future generations from the harms it pose.

He directed the House Committee on Environment and Solid Mineral Development to take immediate steps in curtailing the menace.

Speaking to Assembly press crew on the motion shortly after plenary, Hon. Mark Sunday Na’ah member representing Jos North West and Chairman House Committee on Environment and Solid Mineral Development, said the committee will swing into action and make recommendations that will probably move the miners to designated areas that are meant for such activities.

“These activities involve heavy machines which release different chemicals that are harmful to human existence. So this committee is going to look at the health hazards of the activities of all the mining companies within the residential areas to be able to give recommendations appropriately.” He said.

Na’ah further said his committee will liaise with Hon. Jonathan Gaza, House of Representatives Committee Chairman on Environment and Solid Mineral Development as well as the Federal Ministry of Environment and Solid Mineral Development to ascertain if all the miners are licensed and are doing the social responsibility or not, so that Plateau State will not be harbouring illegal miners.