Former Ebonyi State Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development, Hon. Chidi Onyia, has said his administration transformed the state’s mining sector by securing Community Development Agreements (CDAs) and compensation packages worth billions of naira for mining host communities.
Onyia made the disclosure on Tuesday in Abakaliki during the formal handover of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development to his successor, Mr. Chinedu Nkah, following Monday’s cabinet reshuffle by Governor Francis Nwifuru. Onyia has been redeployed to serve as Commissioner for Youth and Sports, while Nkah was moved from the Ministry of Water Resources.
Presenting an account of his three-year stewardship, Onyia said he assumed office on June 20, 2023, and inherited a ministry that was largely inactive but was transformed into a vibrant institution through the commitment of its workforce.
He said one of the administration’s key priorities was ensuring that mining host communities became direct beneficiaries of activities in the solid minerals sector.
“We met a ministry that was almost moribund, but today we have transformed it into a vibrant ministry. Host communities are now fully aware of their rights, and through our intervention, we have ensured that no host community is shortchanged in Ebonyi State,” he said.
According to Onyia, the ministry leveraged provisions of the Nigerian Mining Act relating to host communities and landowners to compel mining companies to fulfil their obligations, despite solid minerals being under the Exclusive Legislative List.
He explained that the ministry made the effective implementation of Community Development Agreements its central focus after discovering that many existing agreements were either ignored or structured to benefit only a few individuals rather than the affected communities.
“We discovered that most of the provisions contained in the Community Development Agreements were not being implemented. In some cases, agreements were entered into with selected individuals without consulting the communities, while others were designed to benefit only a few people instead of the actual landowners.
“We confronted the situation despite resistance from powerful stakeholders. Today, there is no Community Development Agreement in Ebonyi State that is not functional,” he stated.
Onyia said the reforms attracted projects such as concrete roads, health centres, laboratories, classroom blocks, electricity, water facilities and scholarship programmes to mining communities.
He disclosed that more than 1,000 students from mining host communities are currently benefiting from scholarship schemes funded by mining companies.
The former commissioner also highlighted significant improvements in compensation for affected communities, noting that the ministry introduced a more equitable system that included compensation for land acquisition in addition to statutory payments for crops and economic trees.
According to him, communities including Okobo, Ohanku and Amana received unprecedented compensation packages, while landowners and host communities in Ameka received over ₦500 million before mining activities commenced.
He revealed that the five-year Community Development Agreement for Ameka is valued at more than ₦2.5 billion, compared to less than ₦50 million under previous arrangements. Similarly, projects and benefits negotiated for Amana and Ohanku are valued at over ₦1.5 billion over the lifespan of their agreements.
Onyia further disclosed that the ministry’s capital budget increased from ₦10 million to about ₦300 million during his tenure, enhancing regulatory oversight and operational efficiency.
He urged his successor to remain committed to protecting the interests of host communities despite pressure from influential individuals.
“There are still some powerful stakeholders who derive joy in short-changing their people. Do not look at faces. If you do, these achievements may not be sustained. Our responsibility is to protect the interests of our people and faithfully implement the vision of His Excellency,” he said.
Responding, the new Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development, Mr. Chinedu Nkah, commended Onyia for laying a solid foundation and pledged to consolidate on the achievements recorded.
“My mission here is to consolidate on the achievements that have been made. I am not here to inherit anybody’s enemy; I am here to work with everyone in the interest of Ebonyi State,” Nkah said.
Drawing from his experience as someone from a mining host community, Nkah condemned the previous practice of negotiating agreements with a few individuals at the expense of the wider community.
He described the reforms introduced under Onyia’s leadership as timely and beneficial, promising to strengthen collaboration among government, mining companies and host communities to sustain the gains already achieved.
Nkah also appealed to staff of the ministry to remain united, transparent and committed to effective service delivery, while expressing gratitude to Governor Nwifuru for the confidence reposed in him and pledging to advance the administration’s vision for the development of Ebonyi State’s solid minerals sector.
