Metro

Bauchi mining firm to remain sealed amid crisis

There seems to be no truce yet over the closure of a mining firm, Imperial Join Ventures (IJV) operating in Gwana community of Alkaleri LGA of Bauchi, as stakeholders on conflict resolution between the Community and firm have agreed that the company remains sealed.

The resolution was reached during a stakeholders meeting on mining activities in Bauchi State held at the office of the Commissioner, Ministry of Natural Resources on Wednesday, October 4.

While speaking during the meeting, the Commissioner, Muhammad Bello Maiwada expressed his dismay over the report that emerged of trespassing into the sealed site of the IJV by a few people.

He said that although the Ministry will continue to meditate on the issue, it will not allow any activities in the sealed Company and called on people to distance themselves from the Area.

The Stakeholders also during the meeting, resolved to invite the Country Representative of the Imperial Joint Ventures (IJV) so as to find lasting solutions to the lingering misunderstanding between the community and the IJV.

In his address, on behalf of the Community, Sarkin Gwana who is also the District Head of the Area, Alh. Hussaini Mohammad commended the Commissioner for his patience and resilience in solving the dispute which brought sanity to the area.

Alh. Hussaini Mohammed also showed his appreciation for the appropriate steps taken upon their complaint, describing it as commendable, and thanked the Commissioner, his lieutenants, the security personnel and all that contributed and urged to maintain the tempo in the spirit of peace, progress and development of the State.

Earlier during the meeting, minutes of last meeting were read, reviewed, and adopted as working documents.

It could be recalled that, recently, the IJV was sealed by the Stakeholders during their last meeting for the maintenance of peaceful coexistence in the Area.

The aggrieved Community had complained of negligence on the side of the company that brought uprising for failing to fulfill the agreement reached between them for smooth operation.

In attendance also, we’re, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Natural Resources, Alh. Isa Muhammad Tahir; Chairman Caretaker Committee, Alkaleri Local Government Area, Hon. Bala Ibrahim; Bello Inuwa Galoji- MREMCO, Chairman BAMSEL-Abubakar Mohammed Lawan, Chairman Miners Association of Nigeria, Bauchi Chapter – Musa Santuraki Pali, Representative of Nigeria Civil Defence Corp. Alkaleri among others as contained in a statement by, Saleh Umar, I. O. BSMNR.

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