The Commissioner for Solid Minerals in Ebonyi State, Chidi Onyia, has absolved the state government of any blame in the rising environmental and human rights concerns surrounding mining operations in Ezillo and Ikwo communities, stating that Ebonyi receives no direct royalties from mining activities and has little control over the sector due to federal dominance.
Speaking to journalists yesterday in Abakaliki amid mounting criticism from civil society groups over alleged abuses by Chinese and indigenous mining firms, Onyia said the state’s only tangible benefit from mining comes from minor levies collected from trucks transporting minerals out of the state.
“That’s the only thing we get," Onyia declared, "If you go to any mining site and they tell you they pay royalties to the state government, let them come out and hold a press briefing. We don’t get a kobo.”
His remarks came in response to a new report released by the Community Development Advocacy Foundation (CODAF), which accused mining firms operating in Ezillo and Ikwo of widespread environmental degradation, exclusion of host communities, and use of state security to silence dissent.
The report, titled “Mining Practices in Ezillo and Ikwo Communities of Ebonyi State: An Environmental Time Bomb,” also claimed that mining operations began without legally mandated Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA).
But Onyia pushed back, stating that most of the damages cited in the report predate the current administration led by Governor Francis Nwifuru, and that community leaders themselves were complicit in signing off questionable agreements in exchange for private gain.
“These activities began under previous governments. Even some hospital projects agreed upon with companies were exchanged for cash by community leaders, and to date not a single block has been laid. Yet the same communities turn around to blame the government," he said.
He cited examples in Ishielu and Ikwo local government area areas of the state, where community leaders collected funds meant for infrastructure but failed to implement agreed-upon projects, such as hospitals and resettlement housing.
Onyia also accused NGOs of conducting biased and limited investigations, calling their methodologies “dishonest” and “pre-planned.”
“Some of them come with an agenda. You speak to one or two disgruntled individuals and build an entire narrative around it. That’s not justice, it’s distortion," he said.
The Commissioner lamented the federal government’s tight grip on mining licenses, environmental permits, and enforcement mechanisms, noting that even the state government must spend tens of millions of naira and wait years to acquire licenses for minerals within its own territory.
“The federal government gives licenses, approves environmental impact assessments, and takes the royalties. Yet we are blamed for what happens on the ground," he said.
Onyia said the Ministry of Solid Minerals has intensified oversight on miners operating in Ebonyi and has mandated that all Community Development Agreements (CDAs) must now involve the state government.
He revealed that despite resistance from some firms and lawyers and reported threats of legal action - the state has stood its ground.
“Before, companies would deal with individuals and bribe their way through. Now, they must do it our way or stop work entirely. That is why today, for the first time, you see companies building roads, classrooms, and even houses in Ebonyi," he said.
The Commissioner admitted that local complicity remains a major challenge, as many community members allegedly aid illegal mining operations or embezzle compensation funds.
“No one can mine in a community without the knowledge and support of people living there. It’s not just a governance problem, it’s also a community integrity problem," he said.
Onyia also criticized the federal agencies stationed in the state, such as the Mines Inspectorate and the Mining Cadastre Office, for failing to regulate the miners they license, describing their presence as largely ineffective.
In reaction to claims of underground mining and land collapse, Onyia clarified that Ebonyi now mostly engages in opencast mining and that the state remains vigilant about environmental risks, including abandoned mining pits.
He noted that despite years of advocacy and formal correspondence, companies such as Julius Berger have yet to reclaim devastated sites like the abandoned lake in Akpoha, contrary to federal mining laws that require land reclamation within three months of closure.
“This system is broken. Until the federal government is ready to sit with state governments and the communities to fix it, the exploitation and degradation will continue not just in Ebonyi but across Nigeria," the commissioner hinted.
Civil society groups, including the Environmental Defenders Network, Africa Just Transition Network, and Renevelyn Development Initiative, have demanded an independent audit of all mining activities in the state, an overhaul of the licensing system, and urgent remediation of affected areas.
CODAF's director, Maimoni Ubrei-Joe, said the report must serve as a catalyst for systemic reform: “The people of Ezillo and Ikwo deserve justice, dignity, and a safe environment. This report is not just about outrage — it must ignite action.”
