Stakeholders Warn Nigeria Against Reckless Mining Practices

On Tuesday, stakeholders, including environment experts and civil society representatives, cautioned the Nigerian government against reckless solid mineral exploration during a meeting in Abuja. They warned that indiscriminate mining could trigger fresh insecurity, environmental degradation, and widespread loss of livelihoods.

Professor Omolad Adunbi, from the Department of Anthropology at the University of Michigan, criticized the current mining practices, likening them to the oil era's mistakes. He emphasized that without proper regulation, mining could exacerbate Nigeria's security challenges and lead to chaos, banditry, and loss of livelihoods.

Dr. Nnimmo Bassei, Executive Director of Homef, urged the government to rethink its development model, highlighting the urgent need to protect forests and rivers from exploitation. He noted that Nigeria loses approximately 250,000 to 300,000 hectares of forest annually, which threatens biodiversity and livelihoods.

The stakeholders called for the establishment of a governance framework that prioritizes environmental justice and community consent in mining activities.