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Abuja: (NAN) Mining host communities across West Africa have called for urgent reforms to ensure that the region’s vast mineral wealth benefits local people, protects the environment, and upholds human rights.
The demand came at the 5th West African Mining Host Communities Indaba, held in Abuja from September 22 to 26, with delegates from governments, civil society, traditional and religious institutions, and mining companies across the subregion.
Edosa Jason, Communications Officer of Global Rights an NGO released the communique from participants to newsmen on Sunday in Abuja.
Themed “Contextualising Green Mining within the Principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC),” the meeting warned that Africa’s energy transition must not repeat the injustices of past extractive practices.
Participants identified key challenges including weak mining laws, environmental degradation, exclusion of women and youth, and economic inequities that leave host communities impoverished despite rich mineral deposits.
They urged governments to harmonize and reform mining laws, strengthen regulatory agencies, and guarantee community rights in line with international standards.
The communiqué specifically called on Nigeria to expedite the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act (Amendment) Bill 2023 and encouraged similar action across West Africa.
Delegates also demanded that FPIC become a continuous process from exploration to mine closure, giving communities the right to accept or reject projects.
They proposed creating Community Mining Observatories and Development Scorecards to track compliance and measure real benefits.
On environmental justice, the Indaba called for remediation of polluted lands, enforcement of climate-smart mining, and protection for environmental defenders.
The gathering urged COP30 and G20 leaders to include mining host communities in global energy transition talks and establish a Global Extractives Justice Fund.
At the end of the meeting participants reaffirmed that West Africa’s mineral wealth must serve its people, not exploit them — and that only accountability, transparency, and inclusion can make mining a true engine of sustainable development.(NAN)
