Mining and processing in some Abuja communities have over the years led to different types of health challenges and has caused environmental damages. ADEOLA AKINBOBOLA writes.

Background

Public health experts have warned against many dangers of living near illegal mining sites saying such dwellers risk infertility among other hazards.

They also cautioned pregnant women against exposure to such environment, warning that they could experience preterm delivery, abortion and damage to the foetus and that it could even reduce children intelligence or lead to short-term memory issues among other health challenges. 

According to some reports, exposure to radioactive materials in these areas increase the likelihood of coming down with ailments that include hearing loss, kidney-related problems for women and lead poisoning among children.

Visit to Kundu community 

During a recent visit to a mining site at Kundu in Kwali Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Blueprint Correspondent observed that some of the children between the ages of 5 to 17 years support their mothers who sell food to the miners and few other women in the community also participate in mining not minding the environmental hazards associated with carrying out brisk business near such hazardous sites.

The journey to Kundu, a remote community, in the FCT took about 47 minutes from Kwali.

It can only be accessed via a motorbike as the only road leading to the settlement is un-tarred, and motorbike operators charge each passenger between N900 and N1,200 to get there from Kwali. 

Blueprint Correspondent observed that only a few vehicles, mostly used for agricultural purposes, ply the un-tarred road leading to the mining site.

While lamenting on the health effect, Mariam Mohammed , an inhabitant divulged to this medium that the risk of cholera and dysentery among the children in the community is getting higher on a daily basis with no help at sight.

Mariam , who spoke in pidgin English opened up that the community main source of drinking water is a river close to the mining site, expressing regrets that and the community once experienced cholera and dysentery among the children in the community while drinking the water.

She also told this medium that the community dwellers once contacted what is called Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) contractable from water drawn from the village.

Taking a closer look at activities at the mining site, findings by our Correspondent revealed that noise pollution and children’s exposure to danger were common sight.

While expressing their plight and frustration, some parents who spoke to this medium confirmed that many children were having different kinds of health issues attributed to blasts and related effects.

Also speaking, another resident, Asabe Jalo stated that mining activities in the area has led to hearing impairment saying now children are at greater risk.

She said, ” Most times, my children would complained of ear pains and reaction to vibrations due to the activities at the site.

” The environmental hazards caused by mining in the village is making the river to become wider and the activity affects farming in the area owing to increased erosion”.

Chachi community too

Effects of unbridled mining activities is also a big challenge in Chachi community.

Situated at the back of Zuma Rock in Abuja, the community which is about 13 kilometers to Zuba, Abuja, is reportedly feeling the effects of unbridled mining activities due to frequent rock blasting activities hurting residents especially children on a daily basis.

The reasons are not far-fetched; The community plays host to two Chinese firms, Huatai Construction Limited and Lian Hua Quarry Limited.

The two companies blast rocks for construction works in Abuja and its environs.

A resident, John Ochedu

described the situation as worrisom saying, “when the construction company blast rocks, the buildings in the area shakes and everyone is scared.

“Blasting often has a negative effect on the school building and even a devastating impact on school children too, who are already beginning to have hearing difficulties”.

Interventions

To curb the ugly trend therefore, Global Rights, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) recently trained Journalists in Nigeria on mining and host community rights. 

While it lasted, Journalists were trained to rise in defence of neglected host communities who were bearing the brunt of the activities of artisanal and unlicensed miners, as well as some unethical practices in the sector.

The Programme Manager, Global Rights, Mr Edosa Oviawe, while identifying key principles of ethical mining, cited environmental sustainability, social responsibility, health and safety, fair labour practices, transparency and accountability, as well as compliance with laws and regulations.

According to him, ethical mining practices prioritise environmental protection, social responsibility, and economic viability, adding that it “minimises the negative impacts of mining activities on the environment, local communities, and workers while maximising the benefits for all stakeholders involved.”

He added that mining sector played a critical role in Nigeria before the advent of oil and gas, but regretted that same sector has suffered decades of neglect.

The discovery of oil and the civil war, he insisted took attention away from the solid minerals sector.

“This led to the shutdown of mining sites and the evacuation of foreign mining expatriates from the southern part of the country,”  he said.

Going forward, Oviawe, made a case for ethical mining, that respect the rights of communities.

“The government and the mining companies must be held accountable for host communities’ rights.

“Hence, promoting ethical mining practices is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic imperative for maximising the sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s socio-economic advancement,”.

Experts speak on Way forward

Proffering ways forward, Oviawe advocated steps towards ensuring ethical mining, strengthening of regulatory frameworks and enforcement mechanisms, enhancing transparency and accountability in revenue management, investing in research and development of sustainable mining technologies among others.

He also stressed the need to promote community engagement and empowerment through capacity building and revenue-sharing agreements and encouraging responsible investment and respect for Community Development Agreements ( CDAs) as a way out.

Another expert, Dr Rabiu Jalo, cautioned residents around illegal mining sites to be wary of the risks associated with living near mining sites, saying dwellers are at a higher risk of lead poisoning, which is one of the leading causes of intellectual disability in children.

Jalo, who is a Senior Lecturer and Consultant Public Health Physician at the Department of Community Medicine, Bayero University and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano State, noted that such residents are also exposed to radioactive materials and heavy metals, which according to him collectively contribute to approximately 0.6 per cent of the global burden of diseases occurring annually.

“The defects are multi-faceted and affect several parts of the body system. 

“One, it affects the Central Nervous System, which appears to be the chief target, especially in children. 

“It can affect their intelligence quotient, intellect growth, short-term memory and hearing loss in some instances.

“Secondly, it affects the blood system, which for instance reduces the synthesis of the production of haemoglobin – the main ingredient in the blood and can cause anaemia. Another important body part that is affected is the kidneys.

“Unfortunately, lead, which is called cumulative poisoning, tends to have a lot of effects on humans. 

“It can be obtained via ingestion, inhalation and skin contact. The majority of heavy metals including lead affect the kidney,” the physician said.

“Zamfara State, in 2010, recorded the first case of lead poisoning caused by illegal mining during an outbreak of anaemia and kidney dysfunction in children who were used on the fields for mining.

The public health expert also stated that aside experiencing preterm delivery, abortion and damage to the foetus on women, male and female residents around illegal mining sites he stated were at risk of infertility,” Jalo said .

A natural resource governance expert and a resource person at the Global Right’s Mining and Host Community Rights in Nigeria training , Tsema Ede has advised the Mines Inspectorate Department, Mines Environmental Compliance Department, Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Department and Mining Cadastre Office (MCO) to as agencies of government saddled with such responsibility to prioritize regulating mining activities.

However, She was quick to say “Section 19 of the Act provides for the establishment for each state, a committee to be known as the Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committees (MIREMCOs)”.

“The operation of Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO), disclosing that.”

Tsema, who regretted that MIREMCOs were not operational in several states, urged journalists to take up the task of challenging the situation.

According to her, “it is in the interest of the state to build their (MIREMCOs) capacities on the provisions of the Act and their implementation; the ECOWAS Mining Directive; the Africa Mining Vision; Mining host community rights; the basics of geology and mining; Model communities developed alongside mining.”