The ravaging destruction of the land, the poisoning of rivers, the collapse of agriculture, and the soul-crushing erosion of livelihoods – this is the grim reality for the people living in Owukpa, Odoba, and Efeche. These once vibrant communities in Benue State, rich with coal beneath their feet, are now left gasping for survival, as their futures are darkened by the neo-extractive mentality that prioritises profit over people, and exploitation over sustainability.
The Hollow Promise of Progress
In 2023, I was contacted by a friend, an industrialist, Chris Echikwu, who sought my help to investigate the pollution caused by the coal mining runoff from Dangote’s operations in Efeche. What I encountered was a brick wall, not just in terms of finding solutions, but in understanding the apathy that gripped the local community. Despite the pollution, the youth in the village appeared satisfied with the short-term benefits they received from the mining activities, turning a blind eye to the downstream consequences on the Okpokwu River, their only water source. This was not an isolated case. I made contact with the Nigerian Coal Network Nbani Friday Barilule, hoping to bring attention to the issue, but once again, the efforts died in vain as local interest waned, and the story faded into silence.
The situation was no better in Odoba, Ogbadibo LGA. The former LGA Chairman reached out to me, desperate for help in investigating the harmful mining activities in the area. Yet again, my investigation came to an abrupt end, a stillbirth of potential change, as no one seemed willing to confront the harsh reality. What we have is a tragic paradox: communities drowning in coal wealth yet suffocating from its environmental cost.
Benue’s Burden: Rich in Coal, Poor in Action
Benue State sits atop one of Nigeria’s richest coal deposits, stretching across the vast expanse of the Benue Trough. With more than 220 million tons of proven coal reserves, it should be a beacon of progress and prosperity. Yet, despite this vast wealth, the state is caught in a perpetual cycle of poverty, environmental degradation, and unfulfilled promises. The coal-rich regions of Owukpa, Odoba in Ogbadibo LGA, and Efeche in Okpokwu LGA have long depended on coal mining as their economic backbone. But this dependence has come at a great price.
Owukpa: A Crushed Community Beneath the Weight of Profit
Owukpa, a district within Ogbadibo LGA, is an epicentre of this tragedy. With an estimated 75 million tonnes of subbituminous coal buried beneath its surface, Owukpa has been mined by the Owukpa Consolidated Mines Limited since 2007. In theory, this mining should have transformed the community. Instead, it has decimated the very land that people rely on. The unrelenting extraction of coal has turned once-fertile land into barren stretches, covered in erosion scars and toxic waste.
Women, the bedrock of agriculture in the area, have seen their livelihoods evaporate. Their farms are swallowed by the dust, the soil tainted with heavy metals, the crops wither, and the river which was once a lifeline now poisons their homes (including mine, I and my immediate family drink this water daily).
The Okpokwu River, which flows through Owukpa and neighboring towns like Okpoga and Otukpo, is no longer a safe water source. Polluted with mining runoff, it has become an emblem of the environmental atrocities that have been allowed to continue unchecked. The water, once vital for drinking, farming, and fishing, is now contaminated with toxic metals, making it unsuitable for consumption or agriculture. And this isn’t just a local crisis; the contamination ripples downstream, affecting even the distant communities in Cross River State.
The School of Despair: A Symbol of a Broken System
The story of Owukpa’s secondary school tells a tale of neglect and indifference. Built within the shadow of the mining site (the only community secondary school is located with the mining site. In fact, coal is deposited beside the school dining hall), it stands as a stark reminder of the forgotten future of these children. Coal dust clouds the air, and the vibrations from mining explosions threaten the integrity of the school’s structure (they are all cracked). Education, the one thing that could offer these children a way out, is compromised every day by the very industry that is supposed to provide them with hope-The children are living chronic disease time bombs (Please google search).
The Struggles of Owukpa’s Secondary School and Local Infrastructure
One of the most disturbing effects of coal mining in Owukpa is the condition of the local secondary school, which is located near the mining site. The school, which serves as the only secondary education facility in the area, is surrounded by coal debris. Students are forced to study in an environment fraught with coal dust, posing serious health risks. Moreover, the vibrations from frequent mining explosions have left the school building in a precarious condition, with the constant threat of collapse.
Local infrastructure has also suffered. Roads, already poorly maintained, have become increasingly impassable due to the heavy truck traffic associated with coal transport. This has made it difficult for farmers, particularly women, to access markets to sell their agricultural products. The destruction of local roads has further isolated these communities, making it harder for them to engage in trade and access essential services.
Women’s Resistance and Calls for Sustainable Mining Practices
In response to the environmental and social toll of coal mining, women in Owukpa have taken an active role in advocating for change. Led by local women’s groups such as Women in Mining, they have organised protests against unsustainable mining practices and demanded better protection of their land and resources. These efforts have raised awareness of the damaging effects of mining and have led to some policy responses https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/533623-coal-mining-stirs-womens-protest-in-benue-community.html?tztc=1 The state and federal governments set up different panels (at my instance in collaboration with others). I testified before the panel and participated in the parley. https://dailytrust.com/miners-wont-be-allowed-to-cheat-host-communities/ However, significant challenges persist, including continued pollution of water sources, a decline in agricultural productivity, and the lack of viable alternative livelihoods for affected communities.
The Scorched Earth Mentality: Mining for Today, Destroying Tomorrow
This is not just mining; this is the epitome of the scorched earth mentality, a mindset that extracts resources without regard for future generations, communities, or ecosystems. The modus operandi of companies like Dangote’s operations in Benue State reveals a ruthless approach to mining that maximises short-term profit while devastating the land, air, and water. Massive trucks rumble through the night, carrying away 30 tonnes of coal in a single trip, and the land left behind is ravaged, devoid of life.
About 200 trucks haul coal daily to Dangote cement company located at Obajana. The result is a suffocating spiral of environmental destruction. The once-rich soil is gone. The water is undrinkable. The air is thick with coal dust, and the communities that remain are trapped in a cycle of exploitation, their future robbed by a mentality that cares only about profit.
The Forgotten People: A Cry for Justice
The coal mining industry in Benue State, including operations like those of Owukpa Consolidated Mines and Dangote Mines Ltd., has brought wealth to corporations, but it has brought nothing but despair to the local people. The promises of wealth and development have been hollow, and the promises made to the communities, promises of improved infrastructure, social services, and fair compensation still remain unfulfilled. Mining activities continue, unchecked, without any real benefit to those who live closest to the extraction sites.
These communities are not merely passive victims; they are the forgotten people of Nigeria’s coal industry. They are left without clean water, without the means to feed their families, and without hope. They are left to endure the health risks, the economic hardship, and the environmental destruction caused by a short-sighted, neo-extractive system that sees them only as expendable resources.
The Need for a Sustainable Mining Approach
The coal mining activities in Owukpa, Odoba Ogbadibo LGA, and Efeche, Okpokwu LGAs underscore the urgent need for a more sustainable and equitable approach to mining in Nigeria. While coal mining has brought economic benefits to the region, it has come at a significant environmental and socio-economic cost. Unfortunately, the MOUs agreed with host communties are not adhered to. Similarly, the provision of social amenities has not commenced despite extensive extraction of coal. Again, there is no evidence the proceeds of coal is remitted to the federal, state and local government as enshrined in the Act of 2007.
The environmental degradation resulting from unsustainable mining practices in these communities must be addressed through proper reclamation efforts, water management, and more eco-friendly extraction methods. Moreover, the social and economic impacts on local communities, particularly women, must be given greater attention. Providing alternative livelihoods, improving access to basic services, and ensuring that local voices are heard in mining-related decision-making processes are essential steps toward creating a more sustainable future for these coal-rich communities.
A Call for Action: The Time for Change Is Now
The time has come for a change. The reckless extraction of coal must stop. The environmental and social costs are too great to ignore any longer. The Nigerian government, Ministry of Mines and Power, mining companies, and civil society must come together to demand a new approach. This is one that prioritises the well-being of the people and the protection of the environment.
It is not enough to extract the wealth of the land without reinvesting in the communities that have borne the brunt of this exploitation. There must be a comprehensive and sustainable mining approach that includes reclamation efforts, proper water management, eco-friendly extraction methods, and the provision of real benefits to local communities – especially women, who bear the heaviest burden.
To my people of Owukpa, Odoba, Efeche, and Ochobo, Okpoga, Otobi, Igummale and Obi your cries and groans must be heard. It is time for the world to hear them too. We cannot allow this travesty to continue. We must act now to ensure that the coal beneath the earth does not claim the future of the people above it.
By Sadiq Austine Igomu Okoh, PhD