Nasarawa Assembly vows to prevent mining companies from violating environmental laws
….Hosts Netherlands’ Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation
Nasarawa State House of Assembly asserts that it will not permit companies, particularly those in the mining sector, to jeopardize the well-being of the State’s inhabitants by violating environmental laws.
The Chairman, House Committee on Environment, Hon. Mohammed Adamu Omadefu, articulated the Assembly’s stance while hosting a delegation from the Netherlands under the auspices of Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation in Lafia.
He said that the House would continue to monitor the activities of mining companies in order to ensure that they adhere strictly to environmental laws in the State.
“We will not allow companies especially those in the mining sector endanger inhabitants of the State by compromising environmental laws.
“This is to promote the health of our people and for the overall development of the State” he said.
Hon. Omadefu promised the team that the climate change bill he is sponsoring will soon be passed into law and warned companies especially those in the mining sector against circumventing environmental laws.
While giving a breakdown of the devastation caused by the impact of climate change in Nasarawa State through windstorm, flood and other devastating tendencies, Hon Omadefu appealed to the Government of Netherlands to shift it attention to erosion affected aras in Nasarawa State as the programme winds down.
The Lawmaker assured of the House continued commitment to pass laws and make resolutions that have positive impacts on the lives of the people of the State.
Earlier, the Team Leader and Program Manager of the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation, Mr. Joseph Ibrahim, stated that the intervention has been implemented in eight African countries over the past four years and noted that Nasarawa State is ripe for climate policy to ensure climate justice.
He also said that the visit was to appreciate the House for legislating on a bill seeking to curb the impact of climate change.
“And to brainstorm on how to mitigate resultant effects of climate change” he said.
It would be reported that the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation has been implementing Climate Change Policies in Nasarawa State and as the program reaches its climax, the donors, implementing partners and benefiting communities visited the State House of Assembly for interface.
The Netherlands team, along with their implementing partners, attended the Assembly to commend the House on legislating a bill aimed at reducing the impact of climate change and to brainstorm strategies for mitigating its consequences.
During the deliberation, the session acknowledged that Africa is long overdue in formulating policies that allow the continent to contribute meaningfully to climate change negotiations, given its heightened vulnerability to climate change impacts.
