In February 2018, Nathaniel Ogina, a farmer in Iyamitet, Cross River State, encountered an alarming change in the stream that runs through his Cassava farm. After hours of labour, he approached the water to quench his thirst but was startled by its unusual orange hue.
“The water’s colour was strange,” Ogina recalled. “I drank it despite its odd appearance, but the taste was different, and I felt stomach pain I had never experienced before.”
He reported the issue to his local chief, who linked the contamination to abandoned barite mining sites nearby. Days later, his brothers also fell ill after drinking the water. Since then, Ogina has barred his family from using the stream.
Ogina’s experience highlights a broader issue affecting communities near barite mining sites in Cross River. In March 2024, Esther Onete, a mother from Ibogo, recounted how her one-year-old son became severely ill after drinking water from a nearby stream.
“My baby developed diarrhoea, a high temperature, and couldn’t sleep,” Onete said. Medical personnel attributed the symptoms to possible contamination from an adjacent mine.
Barite, a mineral crucial to Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, is extensively mined in Cross River State, which holds one of the country’s largest deposits. However, improper mining practices have left farmlands polluted, water sources contaminated, and communities at risk.
Open-cast mining, the primary extraction method, involves removing overburden—the earth covering the barite deposit. Ideally, companies should reclaim the land by refilling pits after mining. Yet locals report that only one of eight sites visited in Cross River had been reclaimed, leaving open pits and toxic overburden to contaminate the environment.
“Overburden often contains heavy metals, and rainfall washes them into streams,” said Dr Godswill Eyong, a geologist from the University of Calabar.
Laboratory analysis of water samples from Iyamitet, Ibogo, and Alese revealed high levels of cadmium and other heavy metals, with pH levels below acceptable standards. Experts warn that consuming this contaminated water could lead to severe health risks, including cancer, kidney damage, and osteoporosis.
Farmers like Ogina have noted declining crop yields, attributing this to soil contamination. “In the past, we harvested up to 200 rows of yams. Now, I struggle to get 16 because many rot before harvest,” Ogina said.
A 2021 study by the University of Calabar confirmed the presence of heavy metals in crops like cassava, which many locals consume, posing further health risks.
Medical tests on residents also revealed health concerns. Analysis of two individuals from Iyamitet indicated kidney strain and hypertensive heart disease, conditions potentially linked to environmental pollution from mining activities.
The Premium Times reports that the Nigerian government recently commissioned a barite processing plant in Cross River to reduce dependence on imports and encourage sustainable mining practices. However, residents and environmental experts argue that more robust enforcement of regulations is needed to prevent environmental degradation.
“Companies must reclaim mined land to prevent accidents and contamination,” said Professor Christopher Adamu of the University of Calabar.
Community leader Alexius Ayami called for urgent intervention, noting that mining activities should not jeopardise livelihoods. “Mining should support our economy, not destroy our environment,” he said.
Cross River’s rich barite reserves offer significant economic potential. However, as detailed in investigations by Premium Times, the ongoing environmental and health issues underscore the need for a balance between resource extraction and community well-being.
