CSO Alleges Mining Firm Shortchanged Cross River Government, Host Communities

A Civil Society Organisation (CSO), Policy Alert, has alleged that mining operations in Cross River State have shortchanged both the state government and host communities, citing weak accountability mechanisms and poor benefit-sharing arrangements.

The allegation was made on Wednesday during a community engagement held in Mbobui, Akamkpa Local Government Area of the state.

The town hall meeting, organised by “We the People” in partnership with Policy Alert, focused on mining activities, livelihoods, environmental impacts, and community participation in extractive governance.

Speaking at the event, Policy Alert consultant, Mr. Mfon Gabriel, referenced a 2021 investigation into the operations of a cement company within the Akamkpa and Akpabuyo axis of the state, which he said revealed significant governance gaps.

According to him, the “Wetin We Gain” project showed that Community Development Agreements (CDAs) signed since 2002 had been largely unimplemented despite decades of mining activity.

Gabriel alleged that host communities had been “exploited and denied benefits commensurate with the wealth extracted from their lands over the years,” calling for a fresh Community Development Agreement ahead of the renewal of Lafarge’s mining licence in 2027.

He insisted that communities must be allowed to determine their own development priorities and also demanded compensation for what he described as unfulfilled obligations under existing agreements.

On environmental concerns, Gabriel said residents had complained of polluted water sources, dust pollution, damaged homes caused by blasting activities, and destruction of economic trees due to mining operations.

He also stated that between 2015 and 2020, royalties paid to the federal government amounted to about N464.5 million, describing the figure as “paltry” compared to the volume of limestone and other minerals extracted daily from the communities.

He urged the Federal Ministry of Environment to conduct independent environmental audits to assess compliance with environmental standards.

Other participants at the forum also raised concerns over governance and revenue accountability.

Ken Henshaw of “We the People” alleged that communities were excluded from key decision-making processes and often received benefits as privileges rather than enforceable rights, while some local elites acted as gatekeepers.

He said empowering communities to monitor mining activities would improve transparency and help government recover legitimate revenues.

Also speaking, community stakeholder Mr. Raphael Effiong from Abiati blamed local contractors for job diversion, stressing that communities must hold their representatives accountable for fair participation in mining benefits.