Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) has advocated a law that would protect cultural sites affected by mining activities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Executive Director of CTA, Ms Faith Nwadishi, made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at the capacity building workshop on: “Negotiation and Understanding on the Community Development Agreement (CDA).”
According to her, Section 116 of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007, defines a CDA as the conclusion/agreement with the host community where operations are to be conducted.
The Act also stipulates that such agreement should ensure the transfer of social and economic benefits to the community.
Nwadishi said the group has been implementing the Original Inhabitants (OIs) project on cultural and environmental rights since November 2021.
She said the project, which aims at promoting the cultural values and environmental rights of the original inhabitants of the FCT, is supported by the Macarthur Foundation through the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education.
“CTA has conducted a scoping study in selected mining host communities to investigate the cultural, socio-economic and environmental impact of mining and quarrying activities in Karishi, Kubwa, Kuje, and Mpape areas in the FCT,” she said.
The Executive Director said one of the core findings from the research was that despite the extensive regulatory reviews done, there are no laws that protect the cultural sites affected by mining activities in the FCT.
Nwadishi noted that having a beneficial and workable CDA is imperative; adding that host communities should enjoy the benefits accruing from the natural resources in their domain.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Oluwatoyin Akinlade, said the CDA if implemented well, would bring about mutual relationship between the company and the host communities. (NAN)
CTA has conducted a scoping study in selected mining host communities to investigate the cultural, socio-economic and environmental impact of mining and quarrying activities in Karishi, Kubwa, Kuje, and Mpape areas in the FCT.
