The Federation of Nigeria Mining Host Communities, Ebonyi Chapter, is dedicated to addressing the injustices and hardships faced by mining host communities in the state. On November 1, 2024, the state coordinator, Dr. Francis Orji, made this commitment during a courtesy visit to Dr. Ben Odoh, the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of Ebonyi State, in Abakaliki.
Dr. Orji explained that the federation’s core mission is to help mining communities articulate their collective struggles and advocate for extractive justice and fair resource distribution. He noted that Global Rights played a pivotal role in forming the federation across all 36 states in 2019 to unite mining host communities.
“This is a citizen-led initiative aimed at demanding accountability and safeguarding the rights of mining host communities, ensuring that the benefits of mineral resources trickle down to those communities,” he stated.
The Ebonyi chapter intends to create a robust platform for collaboration between host communities and the government to protect their rights. Orji emphasized the importance of transparency regarding extractive revenue that supports both state and federal accounts.
He lamented that most host communities in Ebonyi live in extreme poverty and lack basic social amenities such as roads, electricity, clean water, and education. “Despite the significant profits generated by extractive companies, these communities suffer from pollution and environmental degradation,” he added.
Orji, a former Commissioner for Solid Minerals and Community Development, also mentioned uninvestigated reports of human rights abuses and exploitation by extractive companies.
“We commit to working closely with your ministry to develop advocacy strategies and comprehensive plans aimed at community empowerment, social and economic justice, and corporate accountability in the extractive sector,” he said.
The federation also plans to visit mining host communities and sites to better understand their challenges. “We will engage with non-state actors for judicial conflict mediation in areas affected by mining-related disputes, fostering a peaceful environment conducive to business growth that benefits both the state and host communities,” Orji explained.
He expressed appreciation for Governor Francis Nwifuru’s achievements, particularly the digitization of the justice delivery system in the state.
Commissioner Odoh thanked the federation for their visit and their commitment to advocating for justice and the rights of mining host communities. He assured them that the Ministry of Justice and the state government would support their efforts, providing a legal framework that protects both the host communities and mining companies.
Odoh highlighted the mining industry’s potential benefits for the people and government, expressing the administration’s commitment to supporting initiatives that promote equity, social justice, and economic fairness. He emphasized the need for monitoring operators in the sector to ensure compliance with legal standards, stating, “We commend your efforts and assure you that we will continue to provide the necessary legal framework for equity, transparency, and accountability in the mining sector.”