Environment

Illegal mining fueling insecurity in Nigeria says Deputy Speaker

By Web News 282

By Tanimu Salihu (Abuja)

The Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, says the current practice of mining in Nigeria has contributed largely to the insecurity confronting the nation.

The Deputy Speaker stated this in Abuja at a Public Policy Dialogue on Solid Minerals organized by the House Committee on Solid Minerals.

The Public Policy Dialogue brought together Policy Makers, experts and actors in the mining sector to deliberate on how to harness and improve the potential of the sector for the Socio-economic development of the country.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Kalu, affirmed that the nation’s mineral resources have remained untapped, said the tenth Assembly is working on legislation that if passed would transform the mining sector.

Mr Kalu explained that if the mining sector was properly harnessed, it would create millions of jobs to Nigerians as well as increase the nation’s GDP.

The Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, said to achieve the desired growth in the mining sector, there was a need to reform policies that had hindered the progress of the sector.

The Chairman House Committee on Solid Minerals, Mr. Gaza Jonathan, said the new legislation if passed would ensure five percent for host communities where mining takes place.

 Mr. Gaza, urged stakeholders in the sector to work cohesively and leverage technology to develop the mining sector where more opportunities would be created for sustainable development.

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Politics

Benjamin Kalu Becomes Deputy Reps Speaker

By Web News 858

A member of the House of Representatives representing Bende Federal Constituency in Abia State, Benjamin Kalu, has emerged as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 10th National Assembly. 

The anointed candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) emerged unopposed at the inauguration of the 10th House of Representatives on Tuesday in Abuja.

He was subsequently sworn in at 12:21pm on Tuesday.

Kalu takes over from the Deputy Speaker of the 9th National Assembly, Idris Wase.

The emergence of Kalu followed the election of a member from Zaria Federal Constituency in Kaduna State, Tajudeen Abbas as Speaker of the Green Chamber.

Abbas defeated Wase and Aminu Jaji in a voice vote on Tuesday at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.

Abbas scored 352 votes of the total 359 votes cast while Jaji and Wase polled three votes each.

In the just-concluded elections, the ruling APC secured over 170 of the 360 seats in the green chamber, the highest by any party. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came second with over 100 seats, the Labour Party (LP) with over 35 seats, the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) with about 20.

Many APC lawmakers had indicated interest to emerge the next Speaker of the House. They include Wase, Jaji, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, Yusuf Gagdi, Aliyu Betara,  Abdulraheem Olawuyi, Princess Onuoha, amongst others but all others stepped down with the exception of Wase and Jaji.

Earlier, Senator Godswill Akpabio from Akwa Ibom State was elected the President of the 10th National Assembly after he defeated Senator Abdul’aziz Yari.

Meanwhile, Senator Jibrin Barau, who represents Kano North Senatorial District, also emerged unopposed as Senate Deputy President, succeeding Ovie Omo-Agege.

Culled / Titilayo Kupoliyi

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