Blessing Odega
Two Non-Governmental Organisations(NGOs) have trained 50 vulnerable farmers and artisanal miners in Plateau on the adverse impact of illegal mining activities on the environment and climate.
The NGOs are the Centre for Earth Works and the Nigerian Climate Justice Alliance (NCJA).
Mr Daniel Mark, the Programme Director of Centre for Earth Works, said on Tuesday in Jos, during the training, that the essence of the training was to sensitise the farmers and miners to the adverse impact of mining.
Mark said the training would also equip the farmers and miners with the needed knowledge and skills to address the effects of illegal mining activities on their livelihoods and the environment.
He emphasised the need for farmers to contribute to policy changes and relevant reforms as they affected them.
Mark appealed to civil society organisations and the government to train and sensitise rural communities on the adverse effects of illegal mining and climate change.
One of the participants at the training, Mr Sunday Pam, appealed to both the federal and state governments to enforce the policies and regulations of the Mining Act of 2007.
Pam harped on the need for mining companies to carry out their Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) to their host communities.
He further said that proper regulation was needed to ensure testing for land safety in mining in line with scientific procedures.
Pam decried the inappropriate engagement of youths in the community in unsafe and unhealthy mining activities, which led to the obstruction of their education in search of precious metals and minerals. NAN
