“… as he wades into mining crisis rocking Igwo community of Kokona LG…”
Speaker, Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Dr. Danladi Jatau, has tasked all mining communities in the State and stakeholders in mining areas to support investors coming into their areas for mining activities.
This, the Speaker said if citizens embrace peace, support investors being attracted to the State by Gov. Abdullahi Sule especially mining companies the society and the State will be better for it.
The Speaker made the call when he visited Igwo community in Agwada, Kokona LGA of the State today to intervene on disputes between the people and a mining company operating in the area.
It was reported that Igwo community in Agwada, Kokona LGA is one of the communities in the State blessed with natural resources especially Lithium which is currently being processed by Black Gen New Energy Ltd a mining company.
However, there is a misunderstanding as three communities namely Agbadu, Agaza and Egboka are complaining of alleged taking over of their ancestral lands by the mining company operating in the area, a development that prompted the Speaker Dr. Danladi Jatau whom the place is part of his constituency to visit them, hear and see things for himself with a view of resolving the disputes amicable.
The Speaker alongside security agents and local authorities held an expanded meeting with all the parties involved at the palace of Village Head of Igwo Alh. Muhammed Otogoyi to calm the growing tension among the people.
In their presentations before the Speaker, Mr. Ayuba Osu, the Chairman of Agwadu community, and Abraham Kwose the representative of Egboka community as well as Saidu Haruna of Agaza community said that the situation is worrisome because they are blinded in what is happening in their environments in the mining activities by Black Gen New Energy Ltd stressing that there is allegations and evidence of C of O and R of O to takeover their ancestral lands.
However, the allegations was denied by the Company’s Liaison Officer Mr. Emmanuel Bitrus who said that the lands were lease for some period of years not taken over as alleged stressing that the company passed through all due process and is fulfilling all its Community Development Agreements with stakeholders involvement.
And on the order hand, Ibrahim Osanga of Osanga family also alleged that their huge family land was seized and taken over by NAGIS and was given to Agaza community adding that the case is already in the court.
In their contributions, the Executive Chairman of Kokona LG who was represented by his Deputy, the Speaker of the legislative council, the Administrator of Agwada, SSA to the Governor Luka Osu and the Village Head of the Area all spoke on the matter and the need for the people to unite and work as one entity for peace and benefit of all.
Having listened to all the parties involved, the Speaker Dr. Danladi Jatau said he visited the area following complains and tension been generated by the situation at hand noting that he has informed the Governor on the matter and his visit.
The State Number Three Citizen appreciated God for blessing the area with natural deposits and thanked the effort of the Governor for attracting investors to the State stressing that if the people give room for crisis they will be the ones to be at the receiving end hence the need for them to keep all sentiments aside and unite for the benefit of their communities.
He lamented that when brothers fight, visitors inherit their properties noting that lack of proper communication and communication gaps, selfishness and self centred were the major causes as everyone is struggling and fighting for his personal gains instead of the overall community interest.
While calling for calm and understanding among the people, he used the medium to call on all stakeholders across mining communities in the State and the people to support and encourage mining companies coming for mining activities in their environments to succeed for the benefit of all and they should continue to advocate for what will benefit the community not the other way round.
The Speaker was also at the palace of Osu Agwada HRH Abubakar Sadiq to brief him on his visit and the discussions achieved where the need for justice, operations of other companies, those with first land consent in an event of multiple consents to be considered, monopoly, rivalry between the Black Gen and Ajans Investment Ltd among other issues were brought forward.
The Speaker said all government want is peace, unity and development which must be sustained to the later.
The Speaker while in the area also visited the residence of the APC Chairman of the ward Solomon Sarki and condoled with him over the demise of his Mother Juma Sarki.