By Alex Odeh
The Ebonyi State Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has stated has called for collaboration with the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Ebonyi State branch to prosecute minners in the State who engaged under aged children and pregnant women in various mining sites across the State.
The Ebonyi State Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Chidi Onyia, made the call when he received members of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Ebonyi State branch, who paid a familiarization visit to his office in Abakaliki.
The Commissioner was also worried over the domination of Nigeria’s mining sector by foreign investors, even as he decried that indigenous miners were not given fair opportunities despite the country’s vast mineral endowments.
He said, “We are very much aware that, to a great extent, the mineral sector is being controlled by foreigners,” Onyia said. “Even in the ministry, Nigerian miners are not fairly treated or given due advantage compared to expatriates who exploit our minerals to develop their own countries, while our communities remain underdeveloped.”
The commissioner decried the long-standing neglect of host communities, noting that the welfare and rights of mining communities have often been ignored in favor of revenue generation for government and profits for private operators.
“We inherited a system where the welfare of the people was not considered,” he lamented. “Past administrations focused on what the government could generate from mining, not on the wellbeing of the people who suffer environmental and social impacts.”
He revealed that many mining activities across Ebonyi are carried out by artisanal and unlicensed local miners, who lack the technical and safety standards required by law. According to him, this has resulted in widespread cases of child labour, exploitation of pregnant and nursing mothers, and hazardous working conditions.
“Most of the mining sites where you see child labour and women carrying babies while working are operated by our own people,” he said. “They have been brainwashed and deprived of their rights by local stakeholders who connive with companies to exploit them.”
Dr. Onyia also recounted visiting mining sites where residents, including elderly women, lived in dangerous proximity to open pits without safety measures or proper relocation, describing such conditions as “inhuman and unacceptable.”
He condemned the attitude of some community leaders who, instead of defending their people, collude with mining firms to exchange public benefits for personal gains.
“We discovered cases where companies agreed to build health centres or offer scholarships, but community leaders collected money instead,” the commissioner disclosed. “This ministry will no longer tolerate such practices. Henceforth, every Community Development Agreement (CDA) must be transparent and made public.”
“From today, any mining site that allows underage children, pregnant women, or nursing mothers will face legal action,” Onyia vowed. “We are ready to work with FIDA and the judiciary to enforce compliance and protect the next generation.”
Dr. Onyia assured FIDA of the ministry’s commitment to the partnership, stressing that Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru’s administration is determined to reform the mining sector in line with the People’s Charter of Needs, which prioritizes the welfare and participation of citizens in state development.
Earlier, the Chairperson of FIDA Ebonyi State, Ik-Odeh Oluchukwu, commended the ministry for its efforts to sanitize the mining sector and called for greater protection of women and children engaged in mining activities.
“We see children during school hours working in mining sites,” she said. “Children should be in school, not in the pits. Women in mining must also be protected. We seek collaboration with your ministry to ensure child labour is reduced and safety is prioritized.”
Oluchukwu emphasized that miners in Ebonyi must use safety tools and personal protective equipment (PPE) before entering mining sites to prevent accidents and health risks.
“The future of our children must be secured,” she added. “With strong partnerships, we can achieve a mining environment that upholds human rights and dignity.”
Also in a vote of thanks, the Vice Chairperson of International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Ogochukwu Okpogo Onwe expressed gratitude to the Commissioner for given them elaborate explanation of what is happening in various Ebonyi mining sites. She expressed appreciation for the collaboration.
She said, “We are are so grateful for the warmth acceptance and reception. You have given us elaborate explanation to what is happening in our mining sites which we were not aware before now. We want to thank you so much for the collaboration and the partnership you have thrown open”, she said .
