C/River lawmakers Laments Over Environmental Disaster Caused By Illegal Mining, Calls For Laws Amendment

By, Promise Imoh. 

The Cross River State House of Assembly has raised urgent concerns about the environmental disaster caused by illegal mining activities in the state, particularly in Obubra Local Government Area.

Lawmakers have called on the National Assembly to amend Nigeria’s mining laws to prioritize the needs of host communities and resource-producing states.

The resolution, which was moved on Thursday by Hon. Egbe Abeng (Obubra I), received unanimous support from all members of the 10th Assembly.

Abeng highlighted the devastating impact of illegal gold mining in Obubra, where mining operations have not only caused severe environmental degradation but has also destroyed the only source of potable water for five major communities including; Ababene, Ovokwa, Onyadema, Ofat, and Ofodua and as a result, residents have been forced to rely on sachet water for basic needs such as cooking, bathing, and cleaning. 

The also emphasized that this environmental crisis has led to a public health emergency, with concerns about  potential  disease outbreaks due to the contamination of local water sources. The Water Board station in Ofodua, which once supplied clean water to the area, is no longer operational and is in dire need of rehabilitation.

Presenting the motion, Hon. Abeng described the situation as an urgent humanitarian crisis, calling for swift intervention.   “Our people are suffering, Illegal mining has not only stolen their resources but has also deprived them of their right to clean water. The federal mining law must be reviewed to reflect the needs of the people living in these affected communities.” Abeng stated. 

Responding to the request, the house resolved to send a high-level delegation, which will be led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, to the National Assembly in Abuja to formally present the resolution to the President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, urging them to amend the mining laws to ensure fair treatment of host communities.

Raising concerns about the current structure of Nigeria’s mining laws, which he argued disproportionately benefit the federal government while leaving resource-producing states and their communities in povert, Speaker Ayambem emphasized that the new legal framework should ensure that states have a say in mining activities within their territories and that host communities receive adequate compensation, environmental protection, and infrastructural development.

“We are calling on the National Assembly to amend or repeal these unjust mining laws, Host communities and states like Cross River, which have contributed immensely to national development, must not be left behind. Mining should be a driver of development, not devastation.” Ayambem said.

The lawmakers while urging the Cross River State Government to take immediate steps to restore access to clean water for the affected communities, further called on the Ministry of Water Resources and the State Water Board to rehabilitate the Ofodua Water Board station and ensure that potable water is provided to the communities impacted by illegal mining.