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Taraba State Task Force Warns Of Land Degradation Caused By Unregulated Mining
Taraba State Task Force Warns Of Land Degradation Caused By Unregulated Mining....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The Taraba State Task Force has raised concerns over the unregulated practices of miners within the state, which have resulted in the deterioration of fertile agricultural lands.
Additionally, the Task Force highlighted the troubling trend of mining companies employing teenagers as a source of inexpensive labor, contributing to a rise in school dropouts.
Gen. Jeremiah Faransa (retired), the Chairman of the Task Force, addressed these issues during a briefing held in Jalingo, the state capital, on Monday. He emphasized that some communities in the state have abandoned farming altogether due to the severe degradation of their lands caused by mining activities.
Faransa stated, “There are currently more than 20,000 individuals, both legal and illegal miners, operating in Taraba State. Illicit miners often disguise themselves as laborers working for legitimate mining companies.”
He expressed deep concern for the communities of Arufu and Akwana in Wukari local government area, where extensive excavation and destruction by both legal and illegal miners have left the land unsuitable for agriculture or construction. These communities have now completely forsaken farming, with every household engaged in mining activities.
Furthermore, in Dogon Yasu, the exploitation of teenagers who should be attending school has become rampant, as mining companies employ them as low-cost labor. Interviews revealed that these young workers are compensated with meager daily wages, ranging from N500 to N1000, leading to a surge in school dropouts in Northern Nigeria.
Faransa clarified that the state does not oppose mining investment but is deeply concerned about the lack of due diligence and environmental protection. He stressed that miners bear certain responsibilities, particularly regarding environmental preservation and public safety. Under the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation of 2007, miners are obligated to refill excavated land up to 80%, but most mining sites inspected by the Task Force have failed to meet even 10% of this requirement.
Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to partnering with investors to drive development and generate employment opportunities across the state.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The governor made the statement at the Government House in Umuahia during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the development of the Aba Commercial Smart City, a project expected to create about 125,000 jobs.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Caleb Ajagba, Otti said the project would transform Aba and the wider Abia State into a major industrial hub, fostering sustainable economic growth and large-scale job creation upon completion.
He emphasized that his administration prioritises the creation of quality employment over handouts, noting that meaningful jobs remain the most effective way to empower youths and citizens.
The governor also called for sustained public-private sector collaboration in the state’s development, citing the recent achievement of 90 days of uninterrupted power supply in Aba as a product of effective partnership between the government and private investors.
Speaking on the project, the Manager of Technical Services for Aba Commercial Smart City, Mr. David Okoro, disclosed that the development would occupy 140 hectares of land in Osisioma and generate 25,000 direct jobs and 100,000 indirect jobs for residents of Abia State.
Ten inmates of the Old Abeokuta Custodial Centre in Ibara, Ogun State, have secured free admission into Yewa Central College of Education to study various academic programmes.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The beneficiaries, made up of seven males and three females, were admitted into courses including English Language/Social Studies, Economics/Social Studies, Political Science/Social Studies, Business Education, Physical and Health Education, Economics/Political Science, and Economics/Computer Science.
Speaking at a matriculation ceremony held within the correctional facility on Friday, the Provost of the College, Dr. Mary Bamgbose, formally welcomed the inmates into the 2025/2026 academic session and urged them to maintain good conduct.
She described the inmates as reformed and expressed confidence that they could become positive representatives of the institution after regaining their freedom.
“Today, 10 inmates who have been corrected and reformed are being matriculated into Yewa Central College of Education. As you begin this journey on February 6, 2026, I urge you to conduct yourselves properly,” Bamgbose said.
“As God is showing you mercy through this opportunity, I believe you can one day serve as good ambassadors of our college outside this system,” she added.
Speaking on behalf of the new students, Peter Adike expressed gratitude and pledged that, despite their incarceration, they are determined to make the opportunity count.
However, he noted that they still face challenges accessing essential learning resources such as teachers, textbooks, and classroom furniture.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has reflected on the lasting legacy of former Nigerian Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Muhammed, describing his leadership as a moral benchmark for public service, fifty years after his death.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
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