By Nkechinyere Ewa
The Ebonyi State Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development, Chinedum Nkah, has called for a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s mining laws to strengthen state and community participation in mineral resource management, attract investment and address safety concerns associated with mining activities.
Nkah said the existing legal framework concentrated too much power at the federal level, limiting the ability of state governments and host communities to regulate mining operations and hold companies accountable.
The commissioner spoke in Abakaliki during activities marking the 2026 Mining Week, observed from October 12 to 14, with the theme, “Unlocking Investment and Growth Through Partnership.”
He said the event brought together government officials, mining companies, professional bodies and other stakeholders to discuss ways of unlocking the economic potential of Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.
According to him, reforming the mining laws would address conflicts among the federal and state governments, mining operators and host communities while creating a more attractive investment environment.
“The mining sector needs to be seen from the community to the federal level, not the other way around,” he said, arguing that states, local governments and host communities should have greater powers to regulate mining activities.
Nkah expressed concern over abandoned mining pits across Ebonyi State, warning that such sites posed serious risks to residents when operators failed to reclaim them after extracting minerals.
“If you go around the state, you see a lot of pits. You extract minerals worth billions, then leave the pits behind. People will be falling inside,” he said.
He also advocated reforms to provide artisanal miners with technical training, access to funding and legal support to improve their operations and reduce mining-related accidents and deaths.
The commissioner said the state government had created a conducive business environment for mining and quarrying companies, adding that the administration of Governor Francis Nwifuru was also concerned about workers’ welfare and the responsibilities of operators to their host communities.
He disclosed that the ministry had visited mining sites to assess companies’ operations, including their treatment of workers and compliance with operational standards.
Nkah said the government was also engaging mining companies and host communities to improve relationships, promote compliance with community development agreements and reduce conflicts.
He cited a recent engagement in America, Ebonyi State, as part of efforts to ensure that mining companies fulfilled their obligations to their host communities.
The commissioner, however, identified corruption, inadequate awareness among community leaders and the exploitation of local communities as challenges affecting the implementation of community development agreements.
He alleged that some community leaders compromised their people’s interests by accepting personal payments from mining companies instead of ensuring the execution of agreed development projects.
According to him, such practices could undermine projects intended to improve infrastructure and the living conditions of host communities.
Nkah also faulted aspects of the licensing framework that, he said, allowed some companies to acquire and renew licences covering extensive areas without necessarily having the capacity to develop all the mineral resources within them.
He warned that the situation could restrict other investors from accessing mineral deposits and slow the development of the sector.
The commissioner called for reforms that would promote responsible mining, improve safety, strengthen accountability and ensure that mineral wealth translated into employment, infrastructure and economic opportunities for host communities.
He maintained that effective collaboration among governments, mining companies and host communities remained essential to unlocking the potential of Ebonyi State’s solid minerals sector.