In a continued fact-finding effort by the Kano State Ministry of Solid Mineral and Natural Resources regarding the Riruwai community disagreement bordering majorly on the Community Development Agreement (CDA) being executed by Century Mining Company (CMC), Commissioner Alhaji Hamza Safiyanu expressed optimism that contentious issues on the matter would soon be resolved to pave way for the indigenous parties to be unified and solidified in ensuring a collectively reviewed and accepted CDA that would generally and effectively improve the living standards of the community members as designed.
In a press statement issued by the Director public Enlightenment of the ministry Adamu Ibrahim Dabo, Anipr, MNGE , MSN
The Commissioner hinted the development, Thursday in the conference room of the Ministry shortly after chairing a meeting with another delegation from the same area, headed by Professor Ibrahim Garba Riruwai, a renowned Geologist and former Vice Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
It could be recalled that the commissioner held a similar meeting last Tuesday with the first delegation from the Community, led by Engineer Usman Sule Riruwai, a former commissioner in the state.
At the meeting resolution was reached to immediately convene the Thursday meeting for the sake of fair hearing.
Special Adviser to Governor on Solid Mineral and Natural Resources, Alhaji Aminu Abba Ibrahim disclosed that prior to the establishment of the ministry, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf directed him to find out the operational conduct of CMC in the area.
The findings according to him were documented and reported to the Governor for further action.
He expressed hope that the lingering disagreement presently under thorough investigation by the ministry would be put to rest at the end of the assigned task.
Leader of the delegation, Professor Ibrahim Garba Riruwai who shaded more light on the presence of CMC in the area and its contentious Community Development Agreement, pointed out that it came into effect in the year 2020 with full consent of the community stakeholders and to be reviewed after every five years.
He noted that the Five year CDA period has now lapsed and a revised agreement should be designed in accordance with the newly introduced guidelines by the Federal Ministry of Mines and Natural Resources Development to incorporate all the aspirations and needs of the community but within the confine mining acts governing the CDA.
Alhaji Sa’ad Ahmed Bello is also a Geologist, expressed delight with the organised prompt fair hearing on the issue at hand by the Commissioner with a view to instilling mutual tolerance and foster effective brotherhood within the birds of the same feather for the overall development of Riruwai and Kano State at large under the able leadership of Abba Kabir Yusuf.
He urged the ministry to collaborate with the Kano Mines Development Office for a better result in the sector.
Representative of the Federal Ministry of Mines and Solid Mineral Resources Development who doubles as the State Mines Development Officer, Engineer Ahmed Musa, at the meeting reminded the parties that any community disagreement on the issue of CDA and other mining related activities are guided by the laws and could only be resolved as such.
Engineer Mansur Yakubu, the Permanent Secretary expressed the Ministry’s appreciation to the delegation for honoring the invitation despite the short notice.
