NEITI Underscores Effective Community Participation In Achieving Responsible Mining
By Juliet Ukanwosu
The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has pointed out that effective participation of mining host communities is pivotal in fostering a balance between the economic opportunities provided by mining and the pressing responsibilities of environmental stewardship and community well-being.
This was stated in Nasarawa State on Monday by the Executive Secretary of NEITI, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, while speaking at the opening of a 2-day training program aimed at equipping indigenous host communities with the knowledge and tools needed to engage effectively with mining industry actors.
The event which is organised by Global Rights in collaboration with NEITI and the House of Representatives Committee on Solid Minerals aim to deepen community knowledge on Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Community Development Agreement (CDA).
Orji explained that while the mining sector holds vast potential for economic growth, job creation, and infrastructure development, which can be transformative for host communities, however, mining activities come with environmental and social challenges, which, if not properly managed, can have profound and long-lasting negative impacts on the land, water, and health of local populations.
He said: “For more than 16 years, NEITI has championed transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s extractive sector, providing valuable information on the production, revenue, and governance of mining activities.
“Since 2019, the EITI has expanded its requirements, asking mining companies to disclose environmental data and payments, while countries like Nigeria must publish information on mining’s environmental impacts and regulatory frameworks. This includes disaggregated employment data to support public debate on the role of women in extractive communities—an aspect we see as essential to community progress.”
However, he said while the government and companies have a role in responsible mining practices, the communities themselves must understand the processes and standards governing mining.
“The concept of FPIC, for example, ensures that communities are consulted and their consent sought before activities that affect their lands begin. Environmental Impact Assessments provide insights into potential environmental consequences and necessary safeguards, while Community Development Agreements formalize commitments by mining companies to the socio-economic development of host communities, addressing community needs through collaborative frameworks,” Orji said.
In her remarks, Executive Director of Global Rights, Abiodun Baiyewu, stressed that communities frequently face challenges such as pollution, land degradation, and threats to their cultural heritage and way of life due to mining activities.
She said empowering mining host communities with the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to engage in safeguarding efforts not only mitigates these adverse effects but also promotes sustainable development and long-term community resilience. “Capacity building for indigenous communities is essential to ensure their active involvement in the management and oversight of these resources,” Baiyewu stated.
She added that that when quipped with relevant skills and knowledge, communities can establish sustainable alternative livelihoods that reduce reliance on mining income, and they can better manage any economic benefits derived from mining operations.
This diversification, she said, fosters greater resilience in the face of economic fluctuations tied to resource extraction, ultimately creating a more self-reliant and prosperous future for these communities.
Meanwhile, Presidents of Traditional Councils in the 13 Local Government Areas of Nasarawa State, Luka Baba Panya, the Etsy of Karu, has advised community members in the state to refrain from selling off their indigenous farmlands to mining companies for temporary gains.
While highlighting the many issues faced by indigenous mining communities, the traditional ruler warned that it could lead to loss of livelihood, loss of agricultural lands and loss of indigenous lands among others.
Other traditional leaders who also spoke at the event highlighted the need for transparent mining licences, noting that some companies present fraudulent consent letters to the Mining Cadaster Office to acquire licences without the active involvement of Traditional Rulers and the communities.
Furthermore, they emphasised the need for setting the right boundaries, definition of roles by government, communities and host communities, legalisation of Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSRs) as well as addressing the challenges of pollution, loss of livelihoods and access to farmlands due to the sale of ancestral lands to mining companies by community members.
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