Reps Move to Establish Commission to Protect Mining Host Communities’ Rights

 

Reps Move to Establish Commission to Protect Mining Host Communities’ Rights

Abuja, Nigeria — The House of Representatives has commenced steps to establish a commission that will protect the rights of mining host communities and ensure they directly benefit from Nigeria’s vast solid mineral resources.

The proposed legislation, sponsored by Hon. Sunday Dekeri (APC, Edo), scaled second reading in July 2024 and was the subject of a public hearing organised by the House Committee on Solid Minerals Development on Thursday.

The bill seeks to create a statutory body that will enforce fair treatment, strengthen environmental safeguards, and guarantee equitable sharing of benefits with communities where minerals are extracted. It also aims to institutionalise Community Development Agreements (CDAs), ensure local participation in decision-making, and support infrastructure and social development in mining areas.

At the public hearing, stakeholders expressed mixed views. Community leaders and rights groups welcomed the move as long overdue, stressing that host communities have long suffered environmental degradation, poverty, and displacement without adequate compensation. They insisted that the commission must guarantee not only financial benefits but also justice, dignity, and sustainable development.

Representatives of host communities under the Federation of Nigerian Mining Host Communities argued that residents should be recognised as true stakeholders in the mining value chain. They demanded stronger oversight, equity participation, and mandatory benefit-sharing frameworks to ensure mining contributes to local livelihoods.

However, some industry players and legal experts raised concerns about potential conflicts with the existing Minerals and Mining Act, which already gives the federal government custodianship of mineral resources. They warned that imposing mandatory profit-sharing or equity requirements might discourage investment and called instead for stricter enforcement of current CDAs.

Chairman of the House Committee on Solid Minerals Development, Hon. Gaza Gbefwi, assured stakeholders that their concerns would be considered. He said the committee would harmonise the bill with existing laws while balancing the interests of host communities and investors.

Nigeria has a long history of mineral exploitation in states like Plateau, Enugu, and Kogi, where communities have suffered environmental degradation and neglect despite contributing to national wealth. Supporters of the bill argue that the commission, if established, will promote fairness, reduce conflicts, and drive sustainable development in host communities.

The bill will undergo further legislative processes, including possible amendments, before scaling third reading and final passage into law.