C’River stakeholders seek stronger collaboration to curb illegal mining

Stakeholders in the mining sector in Cross River State have called for stronger collaboration among the federal, state, and local governments, as well as traditional institutions, to curb illegal mining and reduce communal clashes in host communities.

They also advocated deeper collaboration and synergy with security agencies to address illegal mining activities, warning that the trend is exacerbating environmental degradation and fuelling communal conflicts in the state.

The call was made on Thursday in Calabar during a stakeholders’ engagement organised by the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals in collaboration with the Cross River State Government, civil society groups, and other relevant agencies on environmental safety and community relations.

The Federal Mines Officer in the state, Ayelabola Olubunmi, said the programme was designed to ensure that the state derived adequate revenue from mining activities, adding that efforts were underway to block revenue leakages with a target to double earnings from solid minerals.

He said, “This programme was designed to ensure the state gets enough revenue from mining activities. Apart from quarry operations, we have not been able to generate sufficient revenue from this aspect of mining. “That is why we are addressing these leakages. We are working to block revenue leakages in the mining sector with a target to double earnings from solid minerals.”

Olubunmi explained that the initiative was aimed at involving all stakeholders, including the military, state representatives, the commissioner for solid minerals, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the National Park Service, the National Inland Waterways Authority, and other relevant agencies, to ensure due process in mining operations across the state.

While commending existing cooperation among the ministry, state government, security agencies, and community leaders, he called for stronger action against illegal mining, describing the sector as a “strategic area” requiring enhanced protection due to revenue losses and environmental damage.

“Illegal mining is predominant. We hope that from this discussion, a clear roadmap will emerge to reduce the menace to the barest minimum,” he said.

Chairman of the Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee, Prof Archibong Otu, emphasised the need to intensify efforts against illegal mining, highlighting its environmental and public health implications. He accused regulatory authorities of over-issuing licences without adequate consultation with host communities, leading to disputes and instability.

“I blame authorities like the Cadastral Office for over-licensing. They keep issuing licences to individuals who are not capable of utilising them. Some do not consult or obtain consent from local communities,” he said. Otu warned that environmental degradation had severely impacted host communities, calling for stronger engagement with community leaders to enhance monitoring and reporting.

“Our environments have been shattered. There are numerous hazards in our communities. This is unacceptable. Community leaders must be engaged to act as whistleblowers because such activities cannot occur without local awareness,” he said. He added that weak monitoring and enforcement of royalty payments contribute to revenue losses, stressing the need for stronger collaboration to improve compliance and revenue generation.

“We need adequate monitoring so that all revenues are remitted to the government. Without this, the sector cannot contribute meaningfully, and stronger synergy is required to improve revenue generation,” he added.

The Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Effiom Ekaha, also called for seamless collaboration among all tiers of government and host communities to develop the mining sector and reduce disputes.

“We talked about stakeholders’ collaboration to move the mining sector forward. How do we work together—federal, state, local governments, and traditional institutions? Once roles are clearly defined, collaboration becomes easier,” he said. He warned that no investor would be allowed to operate in the state without proper authorisation.

“Anybody who comes to my office without the authority to commence operations will be turned back. I do not assume powers that are not mine because I do not regulate the sector,” he said.

Ekaha noted that some investors obtain licences in Abuja and commence operations in communities without consent, describing this as a major source of conflict. He advised community leaders to properly document land agreements and ensure they are registered with the state.

“Once you give consent, ensure that the land is properly surveyed and registered. This will provide proof of the actual size allocated,” he said.

He added that a recent executive order was introduced to prevent discrepancies between licensed areas and actual community agreements, noting that such measures would help protect community interests and ensure transparency.