A former Chairman of Jos North Local Government Council and member of the YPP, Dr. Danjuma Sanda, has pledged to push for Federal Government intervention to address the environmental devastation caused by decades of mining activities in Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency.
Sanda made the commitment on Saturday while unveiling his manifesto during a press conference in Jos, outlining his policy priorities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He said the constituency had suffered massive ecological damage from years of mining, including the proliferation of abandoned mining ponds and extensive loss of farmlands and other environmental resources.
Sanda said his proposed representation would seek to ensure that the environmental consequences of mining activities were properly assessed and that appropriate measures were taken to remediate affected areas.
He also promised to pursue compensation for communities adversely affected by mining activities where such compensation was justified.
“There are several abandoned mining ponds scattered across Bassa/Jos North, in addition to the extensive loss of farmlands and other environmental resources,” he said.
“There are also concerns about the long-term environmental and health implications associated with mining activities. Our people deserve a better deal.”
Sanda said he would work towards drawing the attention of the Federal Government to the scale of the ecological damage and ensuring that the concerns of affected communities received appropriate attention.
He said addressing the environmental legacy of mining would form part of his broader commitment to sustainable development and effective representation of the constituency at the national level.
The former council chairman also identified peace and security, infrastructure, youth and women empowerment, healthcare and education among his other manifesto priorities.
He said he would pursue Federal projects, including the upgrading and rehabilitation of rural and urban roads, while supporting improved primary healthcare delivery across Bassa/Jos North.
Sanda also promised to work with local and international non-governmental organisations to support the upgrading of educational facilities and promote technology-driven learning for young people in the constituency.
On communities affected by violence, he proposed a comprehensive policy of reconstruction, rehabilitation and reconciliation aimed at restoring development and rebuilding confidence among residents.
He said: “We cannot negotiate peace for the people; we must negotiate peace with them, by first identifying and addressing what went wrong in the first place.”
Sanda said his manifesto was anchored on effective representation, accountability and sustainable development, with a commitment to ensuring that the interests and aspirations of constituents remained central to legislative priorities.
