Mining company signs development agreement with Plateau community

Laurium Mining Company Ltd and Sho Community of Ropp District, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State, have signed a Community Development Agreement (CDA) with respect to the mining activities the company will be commencing in the area.

The signing of the CDA implies that the mining company will carry out its corporate social responsibility and ensure that the host community benefits from their activities, through the provision of social amenities and other empowerment programmes.

Prior to the creation of the agreement, the host community had granted to the company the statutorily required consent in accordance with section 100 of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act (NMMA), 2007, giving the company the right to commence exploratory and mining operations on their land.

Speaking at the event in

Jos, the Chairman of Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO), Plateau State District, Senator Davou Zang, said the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is based on the mutual understanding between the company and their host community.

Zang reminded the representatives of the community that it is their responsibility to monitor the quality and job progression of the infrastructure to be provided and to always protect all amenities and infrastructure provided.

He also called on them to prohibit any form of illegal mining activities within the community, so that the company can mine profitably and provide more benefits to the community.

He urged the mining company to always take the host community as a part and parcel of their mining project, warning that any breach of the signed agreement on the part of the company will attract severe sanctions.