By Suleiman Abubakar MAPSA
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has declared its commitment to ensuring that companies, particularly those in the mining sector, adhere strictly to environmental laws to safeguard the health and well-being of the State's inhabitants.
This stance was reiterated by Hon. Mohammed Adamu Omadefu, Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, during a meeting in Lafia with representatives of the Netherlands-based NGO, Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP).
"We will not allow companies, especially those in the mining sector, to endanger the inhabitants of the State by compromising environmental laws. This is to promote the health of our people and support the overall development of Nasarawa State," Hon. Omadefu stated.
He assured the visiting team that the climate change bill he is sponsoring would soon be passed into law and cautioned companies against circumventing environmental regulations.
He further highlighted the devastating effects of climate change in the State, including windstorms and floods, and appealed to the Dutch government for intervention in erosion-affected areas.
The Assembly reaffirmed its dedication to enacting laws and resolutions that positively impact the lives of Nasarawa residents.
Speaking on behalf of GIFSEP, the Team Leader and Program Manager, Mr. Joseph Ibrahim, emphasized the importance of climate justice and policy in Nasarawa State.
He noted that the NGO’s intervention programs, implemented across eight African countries over the past four years, had positioned the State as ripe for robust climate action.
Mr. Ibrahim praised the Assembly for its legislative efforts to address climate change and called for collaborative strategies to mitigate its effects.
The visit marked a culmination of the NGO’s climate change programs in the State and served as an opportunity to discuss Africa’s role in global climate negotiations.
The session concluded with a mutual resolve to strengthen policies that protect the environment and promote sustainable development in Nasarawa State.
