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CTA urges Nigerian Govt to tackle illegal mining in FCT
A civil society organization, Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to tackle illegal mining in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Executive Director of the civil society organisation, Ms Faith Nwadishi made the call during a town hall meeting organised by the CTA.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was on the “Community Development Agreement (CDA) and validation of the report of the scoping study on the impact of mining on the Original Inhabitants (OI) of the FCT.
NAN also reports that the study was carried out by CTA with the support of Macarthur Foundation through the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED).
In her remarks, Nwadishi decried that the damaging effects of mining especially quarrying by some companies had left communities devasted, means of livelihood destroyed, cultural sites desecrated, and the people dejected.
In her words, “This is why we call on the federal government to put measures in place to tackle the devastating effect of mining on the means of livelihood of the original inhabitants of the FCT.”
“We are here today to actualise yet another milestone in the history of this project on promoting the rights of the original inhabitants of the FCT.
Read Also: NEITI pledges support for FCT mining host communities
“This project was launched on Jan. 14. It has been a long journey especially in demanding the rights of the Original Inhabitants of the FCT and making certain requests.”
The executive director said that the scoping study would help the communities, mining companies and the government to further understand the challenges associated with mining and how the communities would benefit from the natural resources on their soil.
“From the respondents’ feedback, it showed that some of the important sites of the inhabitants have been destroyed by mining and infrastructural development activities such as in Kubwa district where their grave sites have been converted to an ultra-modern market now called Maitama market.”
She called on the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development to do more to assist communities in the FCT negotiate agreements with mining operators.
Also speaking, Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr Olamilekan Adegbite said that the community development agreement in the sector was to ensure that the mining communities were carried along by the mining operators.
Adegbite was represented by Dr Vivian Okono, Director Mines and Environmental Compliance Department.
He said that CDA was enshrined in the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act (NMMA), 2007 to make agreements between the Mineral Title Holders and the Mining Communities mandatory.
On his part, Esu Bwari, Dr Ibrahim Yaro said that aside from illegal mining, quarry activities were also a hazard to the people in the community.
The Esu who was represented by Bwari Youth Leader, John Awoyi also said that a lot of residents in the area were displaced by mining activities.
Yaro, however, appealed to CTA to add its scope of intervention on quarry activities which has affected the communities.
CTA urges Nigerian Govt to tackle illegal mining in FCT
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Gombe State Command, says no fewer than 108 persons were killed in 328 Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs) that occurred across the state in 2024.
The state Sector Commander of the corps, Mr Samson Kaura, disclosed this on Monday, in Akko, the command headquarters while briefing newsmen.
Kaura said that 1,078 persons were injured in the auto crashes within the period under review.
He added that there was decrease in number of crashes in 2024 compared with that of 2023.
According to him, in 2023, we recorded 351 road traffic crashes while in 2024, we recorded 328.
”The command was also able to reduce deaths from auto crashes within the year under review through collaboration with relevant ministries and agencies in the state.”
The sector commander also said that 2, 196 persons were involved the crashes within the period under review, with 1, 078 persons injured, and 1,010 unhurt.
He said that in 2023, 2, 588 persons were involved in various RTCs across the state, with 1,308 of them sustaining varying degrees of injuries while 1,161 were recorded unhurt.
Kaura also disclosed that 471 vehicles were involved the crashes within the period under review, against 515 recorded in 2023.
He explained that the command recorded a 6.6 per cent reduction in RTCs in 2024, compared to 2023.
He said that the major causes of crash in 2024 were speed, overloading, loss of control and wrongful overtaking, adding that the corps had stepped up efforts towards sensitising motorists in the state against these menace.
He said that the measures taken in 2024 had yielded positive results in terms of the reduction in the number of crashes and people killed.
”Therefore we will strengthen our collaborations with critical stakeholders towards sensitising more road users in the state as well as improving on enforcement of traffic rules,” he said.
The sector commander advised road users to cooperate with FRSC personnel in 2025 towards ensuring safety of lives and property of road users in the state.
The death toll from the Dikko tanker explosion has risen to 98, according to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA).
The Director-General, NSEMA, Alhaji Abdullahi Baba-Arah, confirmed the updated figure in a statement issued on Monday in Minna.
Baba-Arah also said that 69 people were injured in the explosion, while 20 shops were burnt.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the tanker explosion occurred on Saturday morning at about 9 a. m., along the Dikko-Maje road opposite Baddegi fuelling station in Gurara Local Government Area.
The incident occurred when a tanker loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) crashed, and an attempt was made to transfer its contents to another tanker.
In the process, the PMS came into contact with a generator used to power the transfer process, triggering an explosion that claimed many, injured many, and destroyed properties worth millions of naira.
NAN reports that the incident had sparked widespread condemnation and sympathy from various quarters.
The Niger and Federal government had commiserated with the families of the victims and promised to provide support to those affected.
The state government had also called on the Federal Government to expedite action on the Minna-Suleja road project, which had been blamed for the frequent accidents in the area.
The Jigawa State Pilgrims Welfare Board says it has secured a befitting accommodation for its intending pilgrims ahead of the 2025 Hajj exercise in Saudi Arabia.
This is contained in a statement by the Spokesman to the board, Malam Habibu Yusuf, on Monday in Dutse.
He said the board has successfully secured a befitting hotel accommodation, a walking distance of about 800 meters to the Holy Mosque in Makkah.
“This achievement is a testament to the board’s commitment of ensuring a seamless and enriching Hajj experience for Jigawa state pilgrims,” he said.
The statement quoted the Director-General of the board, Alhaji Ahmad Labbo, as urging the intenting pilgrims to ensure prompt deposit of the Hajj fare.
Labbo underscored the importance of early payment to facilitate proper planning of logistics for the pilgrimage.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the board fixed Jan. 30, registration deadline of intending pilgrims for the 2025 Hajj exercise.
This is in line with directives of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) for the state pilgrim’s welfare boards to remit all collections by Feb. 1.
NAHCON has allocated 1,518 seats to the state for 2025 Hajj, while the board had directed intending pilgrims from the state to pay N8.4 million Hajj fare.
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FRSC records 108 deaths in 328 RTCs in Gombe
Death toll in Diko tanker explosion now 98 -NSEMA
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