From Wilson Okereke, Afikpo
Several mining communities in Nigeria are in ruins following the exploitation and degradation of their environments. Painfully, people of the areas, most of the times had nothing to show for the mining activities in their domains. Some of the communities also suffer insecurity.
Commissioner for Solid Minerals in Ebonyi State, Chidi Onyia, attributed all these to the exclusion of the state, local government and host communities in the mining arrangements by the federal government.
He absolved the state government of responsibility for environmental and human rights violations linked to mining communities in the state, particularly, Ezillo and Ikwo.
In an interaction with newsmen in Abakaliki, the state capital, Onyia emphasised that the federal government controls the mining sector, leaving the state with no share of royalties and minimal regulatory authority.
His position followed a report by the Community Development Advocacy Foundation (CODAF), a non-governmental organisation, which accused Chinese and local mining firms of environmental degradation, exclusion of host communities and use of force to stifle dissent.
The report also alleged that mining operations commenced without required Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA).
Onyia defended the state, noting that many of the issues predate the current administration of Governor Francis Nwifuru.
He blamed community leaders for enabling questionable agreements and diverting funds meant for development projects like hospitals.
He also criticised NGOs for conducting biased investigations, accusing them of promoting predetermined narratives.
The commissioner, who said the state was often held accountable for actions beyond its control, noted the federal government’s monopoly over licensing, environmental approvals and royalties.
Notwithstanding, he stated that the Ebonyi State Ministry of Solid Minerals has intensified oversight and now required that Community Development Agreements (CDAs) include state involvement, despite resistance from some firms: “Before, companies would deal with individuals and bribe their way through. Now, they must do it our way or stop work entirely. That is why, today, for the first time, you see companies building roads, classrooms and even houses in Ebonyi.
“No one can mine in a community without the knowledge and support of people living there. It’s not just a governance problem; it’s also a community integrity problem.”
Onyia also criticised the federal agencies stationed in the state, such as the Mines Inspectorate and the Mining Cadastre Office, for failing to regulate the miners they licensed, saying their presence was largely ineffective.
He regretted that despite years of advocacy and formal correspondences, companies were yet to reclaim devastated sites like the abandoned lake in Akpoha, contrary to federal mining laws that require land reclamation within three months of closure: “This system is broken. Until the federal government is ready to sit with state governments and the communities to fix it, the exploitation and degradation will continue not just in Ebonyi but across Nigeria.”
Civil society groups, including the Environmental Defenders Network, Africa Just Transition Network, and Renevelyn Development Initiative, call for an independent audit of all mining activities in the state, an overhaul of the licensing system, and urgent remediation of affected areas.
CODAF’s Director, Maimoni Ubrei-Joe, said the report must serve as a catalyst for systemic reform: “The people of Ezillo and Ikwo deserve justice, dignity, and a safe environment. This report is not just about outrage-it must ignite action.”