Experts call for host communities’ role in mining sector reforms
The Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG) programme has urged the inclusion of host communities in the mining value chain to address rising violence in the North-Central and North-West regions. Dr Ukoha Ukiwo, SPRiNG Team Leader, emphasized that excluding local stakeholders and weak governance have allowed criminal actors to exploit the sector. The programme highlighted the need for conflict-sensitive regulation rather than blanket bans. The call comes amid ongoing debates over mining policy and security in Nigeria.
What we know
- SPRiNG called for urgent integration of host communities into the formal mining value chain.
- Experts warned that exclusion and weak governance have enabled criminal exploitation and violence in mineral-rich areas.
- Dr Ukoha Ukiwo stressed moving beyond blanket bans to targeted, conflict-sensitive regulation that protects communities and supports livelihoods.
- In December 2025, the Northern Governors Forum proposed a six-month suspension of mining activities to audit licenses and curb terrorism financing.
- The Federal Government has shifted towards targeted regulation, lifting the 2021 mining ban in Zamfara State and prohibiting mineral processing plants in residential areas.
