Environmental activists have hailed the decision of the Cross Rivers government to halt all mining activities in the state following its devastating effect.
Decrying the unwholesome practice of artisanal and industrial miners, the activists called for an urgent halt to every unregulated mining across Nigeria, noting the ecological harm such activities have brought to the environment.
The Executive Director of Health Mother Earth Foundation, HOMEF, Dr Nnimmo Bassey, who applauded the Cross River State government for taking such a step to protect the people and environment, said it was harmful to allow mining in very sensitive areas of that environment.
He noted that the rate of unregulated mining activities in the otherwise protected forests of Cross River State has been very worrisome and posed threats that have repercussions beyond the boundaries of the state and the nation at large.
Dr Bassey, however, urged the governor to further prioritize and sustain the policy, bearing in mind that mining in community forests and other biodiversity hot spots is highly harmful and only enriches individuals and corporations involved in the nefarious activities.
He also urged governors of other states to emulate the gesture and save the fragile and already threatened ecosystems across Nigeria.
Shehu Akowe, HOMEF’s project lead on mining, on his part, decried the rampant uncontrolled mining in the nation and urged the government to build on this momentum by implementing an all-inclusive reform in the mining sector with the interest of communities as its centrepiece.”
He stressed that the reform should prioritize environmental and socioeconomic impact assessments for environmental sustainability.