The Centre for Transparency Advocacy says ‘Needs Assessment’ and priority placement are critical to the signing of Community Development Agreements to guarantee lasting peace.
At a townhall meeting to validate the report of a scoping study on the impact of mining in Abuja, the civil society group said knowledgeable individuals should be made to sign CBAs on behalf of the communities.
For years, the original Inhabitants of the Federal Capital Territory have faced several forms of infringement on their fundamental human rights.
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The creation of Abuja as the nation’s seat of power rendered them stateless.
Today, the activities of legal and illegal miners have devastated some communities. Many host communities and mining companies are today at daggers drawn over CBAs.
Promoting the Cultural Values and Rights of Original Inhabitants of the FCT is a project the CTA says it is committed to.
This is why it conducted a baseline study on the challenges posed by Community Development Agreements between host communities and mining companies in the nation’s capital.
It encourages community leaders to obtain the necessary education and training.
The report is ready for validation, which is why NEITI, traditional Rulers, and the federal ministry of Mines and Steel Development are participating in the town hall meeting.
Nigeria’s Mines and Steel Development Minister, Olamilekan Adegbite and other speakers lent support to the drive to guarantee host communities a fair deal in agreement signing.
If adopted, the report being validated at the town hall meeting will go a log way to protect the interest of the indigenous people of the federal capital in signing community development agreements with mining companies.
