The Gbong Gwom Jos, Dah Jacob Gyang Buba, alongside other traditional leaders in Plateau State, has emphasised the need for environmental sustainability and transparency within the state’s mining sector.
Buba made this appeal during the opening of a two-day consultative forum involving major stakeholders, focused on emerging reforms in Nigeria’s mining sector. He highlighted that land is a valuable resource vital for positive development, linking the rise in insecurity and health issues to illegal mining activities.
The leaders also discouraged mining near residential areas to prevent property damage and loss of life. They expressed concern over the careless manner in which some traditional rulers in the state approve land for illegal mining activities.
Buba criticised district and village heads for endorsing documents without consideration for environmental sustainability and evaluation. He urged them to collaborate with the government for the benefit of their communities.
Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, officially opened the event, showcasing the state’s wealth of precious minerals. However, he lamented thahttps://www.plateaustate.gov.ng/t only a meager N500 million is reported annually as proceeds from mining activities, a situation he said will no longer be tolerated.
Mutfwang urged traditional leaders to use their authority to halt illegal mining and called on security personnel to resist the temptation of being complicit in such activities. He also underscored the importance of resource control by states, as provided for in the Nigerian Constitution.
The two-day forum aims to assess current revenue generation in the state’s mining sector, explore federal and state strategies, and identify opportunities for improvement to drive development through environmentally sustainable modalities.
