July 1 (THEWILL) — The outgoing Ebonyi State Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development, Mr Chidi Emmanuel Onyia, has revealed that the state secured over ₦5 billion in Community Development Agreement (CDA) projects and compensation packages for mining host communities during his tenure.
Onyia, now the State Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, made the disclosure on Tuesday in Abakaliki while officially handing over the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development to his successor, Mr Magnus Chinedu Nkah, following the recent cabinet reshuffle approved by Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State.
He said the ministry was transformed from what he described as a “moribund” establishment into a vibrant institution that now prioritises the welfare and rights of mining host communities across the state.
According to him, the administration shifted attention from revenue generation alone to ensuring that communities hosting mining activities fully benefit from the exploration of mineral resources through the effective implementation of Community Development Agreements.
He explained that several communities now enjoy projects such as concrete roads, health centres, classroom blocks, electricity and water schemes, laboratories in schools, as well as scholarship programmes for students.
Onyia revealed that more than 1,000 students from mining host communities are currently benefiting from scholarships facilitated through mining companies operating in the state.
He further disclosed that the ministry successfully negotiated compensation packages running into hundreds of millions of naira for affected landowners, citing the payment of over ₦500 million in compensation to landowners in Ndufu-Alike by First Patriot Mining Company.
The former commissioner also stated that another community received more than N500 million in compensation before mining operations commenced, while Community Development Agreements worth over ₦2.5 billion and ₦1.5 billion were secured for separate host communities over five years.
According to him, the combined value of the projects and compensation secured for various mining communities exceeds ₦5 billion, representing a significant improvement from previous agreements, which he said were worth less than ₦50 million in some cases.
He noted that one of the ministry’s greatest achievements was ensuring that mining companies complied with the provisions of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act relating to host community benefits and compensation.
Onyia said the ministry also confronted influential individuals who allegedly manipulated agreements to favour a few persons at the expense of genuine landowners and affected communities.
He urged his successor not to compromise in protecting the interests of host communities, stressing that sustaining the reforms would require courage and impartiality.
“I urge you not to look at faces. There are powerful stakeholders who derive joy in shortchanging their people. Our duty is to protect the interests of the people and uphold the vision of Governor Francis Nwifuru”, he said.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry commended Onya for revitalising the solid minerals sector, describing his leadership as transformational.
He said the outgoing commissioner strengthened relationships between mining companies and host communities while ensuring greater compliance with the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007, and the Minerals and Mining Regulations, 2011.
The permanent secretary expressed confidence that the incoming commissioner would build on the achievements already recorded and assured him of the ministry’s full support.
In his remarks, the new Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development, Mr Magnus Chinedu Nkah, thanked Governor Francis Nwifuru for the opportunity to serve in the new capacity and pledged to consolidate the reforms initiated by his predecessor.
Nkah, who until his redeployment served as Commissioner for Water Resources, said his administration would sustain policies aimed at protecting host communities and promoting transparency in the mining sector.
He called on the staff of the ministry to cooperate with him, assuring them of an open-door policy and commitment to advancing the state government’s vision for sustainable solid minerals development.
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