Kogi State Governor says his administration will continue to foster sustainable modalities towards economic benefits accrual to host communities of mining companies in the State.

Governor Bello stated this in a message to a workshop for active stakeholders in the mineral resources sector held in Lokoja.

Represented by his Deputy, Chief Edward Onoja, the Governor advised community leaders in host communities on the adoption and implementation of Community Development Agreements, CDAs, as conditions to the commencement of mining operations in the State.

According to him, host communities are always at the receiving end of the negative impacts of mining operations on the environment such as land degradation, air and water pollution among others stressing that such agreements would further create the needed framework for the development of host communities in tandem with the vision of the New Direction Government.

He said aside social responsibility, the host communities must possess shareholders rights to benefit more from the operations of such companies.

While reiterating his commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property in the State, Governor Bello said the State aside from being the Confluence of Rivers Niger and Benue, also has extensive mineral deposit making it a treasure base for the country when adequately tapped.

The event has in attendance the Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Sunday Faleke, Commissioners for Solid Minerals and Natural Resources and that of Youths and Sports Development, Bashir Gegu, and Idris Musa respectively also has Chairman KGMRDA, Hajia Hassiat Suleiman, Royal Fathers among other top Government functionaries.