When National Resources Become A Threat To The People - By Andrew Princess Andra

Nigeria is a country richly endowed with natural resources, yet the question that continues to demand urgent attention is: who truly benefit...

Nigeria is a country richly endowed with natural resources, yet the question that continues to demand urgent attention is: who truly benefits from these resources, and at what cost to the communities where they are found?

Illegal and poorly regulated coal mining has become a serious concern in parts of Nigeria, particularly in Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State, where the exploitation of coal resources is increasingly raising questions about environmental protection, community safety and the welfare of the people.

The situation in Ankpa should not be treated as merely an issue of mining. It is fundamentally an issue of human lives, environmental sustainability, responsible governance and the fair management of Nigeria's natural resources.

A recent tragedy makes the matter even more urgent. On July 14, 2026, a fatal coal-mine collapse and landslide was reported in the Enjema District of Ankpa Local Government Area, where artisanal miners were trapped following a ground failure. The incident reportedly claimed the lives of 20 miners. Heavy machinery operations during loading were said to have triggered the collapse, with trucks sinking and workers becoming trapped beneath unstable earth.

These were not simply numbers. They were human beings who went to the mine in search of a livelihood and a means of supporting themselves and their families. Their lives should remind us that economic activities must never be allowed to operate at the expense of human safety.

This tragedy raises a fundamental question: where are the authorities when communities are exposed to dangerous mining practices?

Nigeria is a democratic country governed by laws and institutions. The responsibility of government does not end with granting licences, collecting revenue or protecting mineral resources. Government also has a responsibility to protect the people living in communities where these resources are extracted.

Mining activities must therefore be properly regulated. Operators should be required to comply with safety standards, environmental regulations and community-protection measures. Where mining is conducted illegally or without adequate safety measures, the relevant authorities must act decisively.The people of Ankpa should not have to choose between protecting their lives and earning a living.

Beyond the loss of lives, there is another disturbing dimension of mining activities in the area: environmental degradation. Communities that have lived on and depended on their natural environment for generations are increasingly facing the consequences of mining activities.

One community that deserves urgent attention is Odagbo Ojuwo in Ojoku District of Ankpa Local Government Area. Residents have raised concerns about the destruction of their river as a result of mining activities in the community,  have generated concerns among residents who say their source of water and the surrounding environment have been affected.

If a community's river is destroyed, what happens to the farmers, families and children who depend on that water? If the land becomes unsafe or unproductive, where do the people go?

These questions deserve answers.

Nigeria needs the revenue generated from its natural resources, but the pursuit of revenue should not blind us to the welfare of the people. Natural resources belong to the nation, but the communities where those resources are found should not be treated as expendable.

It is particularly troubling when communities rich in natural resources remain poor while the benefits of resource exploitation appear to flow elsewhere. If mining is contributing to Nigeria's economy, then the people living in mining communities should also experience meaningful development through improved roads, healthcare, education, clean water, employment opportunities and environmental restoration.

The government must therefore strengthen monitoring of mining operations in Ankpa and other mining communities across Nigeria. Mining companies and artisanal miners must be held accountable for environmental damage and violations of safety standards. Where communities have suffered environmental destruction, appropriate assessment, compensation and remediation should be considered in accordance with the law.

There is also a need for greater transparency. Nigerians deserve to know who is mining, what they are mining, where they are mining, whether they are legally authorised, and what safeguards are in place to protect the surrounding communities.

The tragedy in Enjema should not become another incident that attracts public attention for a few days before being forgotten. The deaths of those miners should provoke serious questions and concrete action.

The people of Ankpa deserve better.

They deserve to live in communities where natural resources are developed responsibly rather than becoming a source of fear and destruction. They deserve clean water, safe working conditions and an environment capable of sustaining future generations.

Nigeria must not wait for another mine collapse before acting.

The time has come for the government, mining regulators, traditional institutions, community leaders, mining companies and civil society organisations to work together to ensure that the exploitation of Nigeria's natural resources does not become the exploitation of Nigerians themselves.

Our coal may be beneath the ground, but the lives of the people are above it. No mineral is worth more than a human life.