The Ebonyi State Government has called for a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s mining laws to empower state and local governments, as well as host communities, to play greater roles in the regulation, exploration and exploitation of mineral resources.
The government argued that the existing legal framework, which vests substantial control over mining licences in the Federal Government, limits local participation, weakens accountability and exposes host communities to environmental and safety risks.
The Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development, Hon. Chinedu Nkah, made the call while briefing journalists in Abakaliki during activities marking the 2026 Mining Week, held from October 12 to 14.
Nkah advocated the transfer of mining-related legislative powers from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Residual Legislative List, arguing that such a constitutional reform would enable states, local governments and host communities to exercise greater authority over mineral resources within their territories.
“The mining sector needs to be seen from the community to the federal level, not the other way round,” he said, stressing the need to place host communities at the centre of decisions concerning mining activities on their land.
According to the commissioner, the current licensing system allows investors to obtain mineral concessions through the federal cadastral system with limited involvement of subnational authorities, creating jurisdictional challenges and making it difficult for local institutions to effectively monitor operators.
He maintained that a restructured legal framework would strengthen regulatory coordination, improve transparency and ensure that mining companies fulfilled their obligations regarding environmental protection, workers’ welfare, infrastructure development and Community Development Agreements (CDAs).
The commissioner expressed concern over the growing dangers associated with abandoned mining pits in parts of Ebonyi State, warning that failure by operators to reclaim excavated sites posed serious risks to residents.
He noted that inadequately secured pits could cause avoidable accidents, including incidents involving pedestrians and vehicles, insisting that mining companies must be held accountable for the environmental consequences of their operations.
Nkah argued that stronger participation by state and local governments in licensing, monitoring and enforcement would improve compliance and ensure that affected communities received adequate protection.
The commissioner also called for reforms to address the difficulties confronting artisanal and small-scale miners, particularly their limited access to finance, technical expertise and formal regulatory structures.
He said providing legitimate operators with financial assistance, technical training and legal recognition would promote safer mining practices, reduce fatalities and encourage more miners to operate within the formal economy.
Nkah further called for a review of the mineral licensing regime to prevent companies from acquiring extensive concessions without demonstrating the technical and financial capacity to develop the resources covered by their licences.
He warned that such practices could lock up valuable mineral deposits, restrict access for more capable investors and delay the economic development of mineral-rich communities.
The commissioner urged the relevant authorities to strengthen licensing and renewal procedures to ensure that concession holders utilised their mineral assets productively and demonstrated the capacity to undertake approved mining operations.
Nkah, identified inadequate awareness among some community leaders, alleged corruption and the exploitation of local vulnerabilities as factors undermining the implementation of development agreements.
He alleged that some community representatives compromised the interests of their people by accepting private payments from mining companies instead of insisting on the execution of agreed development projects.
Illustrating the consequences of such arrangements, the commissioner cited a hypothetical case involving a proposed one-kilometre concrete road estimated to cost N400 million.
He argued that a community could lose out on the intended benefits of such a project if its representative accepted N100 million privately rather than ensuring that the agreed infrastructure was delivered.
Nkah, however, emphasised that host communities should not bear the entire responsibility for securing their interests, insisting that mining companies must also demonstrate transparency, honour their commitments and ensure that their operations deliver meaningful benefits to affected residents.
He urged community leaders to negotiate development agreements openly and ensure that the projects captured reflected the genuine needs and priorities of their people.
The commissioner disclosed that the Ebonyi State Government had intensified engagements with mining companies and host communities to improve cooperation, resolve disputes and strengthen compliance with existing development agreements.
He said the government had also embarked on inspections of mining sites to assess operators’ performance, with particular attention to workers’ welfare, operational standards and environmental responsibility.
According to him, the administration’s sustained engagement with industry operators had helped improve relations between the government and mining companies.
Nkah added that several companies visited by the state government had expressed satisfaction with the business environment in Ebonyi, which he described as conducive to private-sector investment.
He said the government was committed to maintaining a business-friendly atmosphere while ensuring that investors understood and fulfilled their obligations to host communities.
The commissioner also disclosed that the state was educating communities on their rights and responsibilities to strengthen their participation in negotiations with mining operators and enable them to demand appropriate development benefits.
He called on mining companies to recognise that sustainable operations must go beyond profit-making to include environmental protection, workplace safety, community welfare and the fulfilment of contractual obligations.
Nkah described the 2026 Mining Week, themed “Unlocking Investment and Growth through Partnerships,” as an important platform for government officials, investors, mining operators, professional bodies and other stakeholders to examine challenges in the sector and develop strategies for sustainable growth.
He said activities in Ebonyi included engagements with mining companies and host communities to review existing relationships, address concerns and encourage compliance with community development commitments.
The commissioner maintained that Nigeria could significantly increase the economic benefits derived from its abundant mineral resources by removing regulatory bottlenecks, improving institutional coordination and creating a framework that supports responsible investment.
He stressed that comprehensive mining sector reforms would encourage greater investment, strengthen environmental safeguards, improve accountability and ensure that mineral extraction translated into tangible economic and social benefits for host communities.
Nkah reiterated the need for stronger collaboration among the Federal Government, state governments, local authorities, mining companies and host communities, noting that inclusive participation and effective regulation were essential to unlocking Nigeria’s mineral wealth.
He said a mining industry built on transparency, accountability and equitable partnerships would not only attract investment but also promote local development, protect livelihoods and contribute more meaningfully to national economic growth.
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