It is always commonplace for host communities to lament neglect by miners, especially when it comes to adhering to Community Development Agreement (CDA) or carrying out Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). PAUL OKAH in this report takes a look at the issues bordering on protection of host communities from exploitation and other negative activities of miners. From the Niger Delta to Zamfara, Niger, Ebonyi and even the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), there is no community where artisanal mining is taking place that has no complaint of exploitation by miners, especially when it comes to adhering to the implementation of Community Development Agreement (CDA).
While mining companies arguably make billions of Naira from mining, it is common for host communities to complain of the lack of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) by mining companies which often leads to polluted water, bad roads, destroyed farmlands and even failure of the mining company to implement what it promised the community in the signed CDA. Worse still, mining activities have reportedly attracted kidnapping, banditry and different forms of insecurity in host communities. Exploitation Speaking with this reporter, the Alatorin of Atorin Ijesa, HRH Oba Omololu Afilaka, said illegal but licensed mining is a prevalent issue in many communities, with environmental impact assessments (EIAs) often rapidly produced and approved by compromised engineers.
He said, “As a community leader, I see the good, the bad and t.