By Habib Yakub
Ankpa, a town located in the eastern part of Kogi state, Nigeria, has been identified as a reservoir of coal. The terrain is fast becoming the darling of coal miners. With almost every community’s soil now ingrained with the black gold.
However, what is supposed to be a blessing is transforming into a curse due to over-exploitation and crude method of extraction. This could be potentially destructible as it could lead to depletion and extinction of the resources.
Mineral resources when discovered anywhere elicits excitements for host communities as a result of what they stand to benefit, but in this case the resources have not brought the prosperity and development expected. Instead, they have created a variety of problems for the host communities.
Ankpa has fallen victim to the resource curse, a phenomenon where resource-rich areas experience economic stagnation, environmental degradation, and social unrest.
The resource curse is a phenomenon where countries with an abundance of natural resources, such as oil or minerals, tend to have less economic growth and worse development outcomes than countries without such resources.
This is often due to factors such as poor governance, corruption, and conflict over resource wealth. There are several examples of countries that have suffered from the resource curse, including Nigeria, Angola, and Venezuela.
However, there are also some countries that have managed to avoid it, such as Norway and Botswana.
The phenomenon of this resource curse are usually classified or typified into; the Dutch disease phenomenon, the curse of plenty, the rentier state phenomenon, conflict resource and ecological curse.
What is obtainable in Ankpa today through coal mining falls into the category of ecological curse, which refers to the environmental damage that the area currently suffers from as a result of the exploitation of natural resources. These damages are
deforestation, water and air pollution, and soil erosion to mention but a few.
In Ankpa, the resource curse has manifested in a number of ways.
Despite the presence of vast coal reserves, Ankpa have not witnessed significant economic growth. The revenue generated from coal mining has not been effectively utilized to diversify the local economy.
Communities with coal deposit has continuously witnessed over the years the callous methods of extracting these mineral resources from their backyard without recourse to sustainability, plunging the environment to degradation and endangering residents’ health.
Many lives trying to make ends meet have been cut short in the course of the inhumane extraction process.
The mining activity is having an adverse effect on the health and social fabric of Ankpa. The inhalation of coal dust and exposure to harmful gases during mining operations have led to respiratory diseases among the local population.
Moreover, the influx of migrant workers has put pressure on the already limited infrastructure and public services, leading to overcrowding and strained resources. This has resulted in increased social tensions, and a decline in the overall quality of life for the residents of Ankpa.
Additionally, there have been a total absence of cooperate social responsibility by the mining company.
Albeit the few individuals engaging in the extraction business, Dangote Group and BUA are the biggest extractors without any CSR to the communities. The immeasurable damages these companies have caused is unprecedented. The host communities have benefited nothing but misery, melancholic experiences, and vulnerability to the hazardous environment.
Motorable roads have been degraded and countless lives lost to the reckless drivers conveying the coal from the mining site.
Road capacities are maxed out and overburdened by heavy trailers conveying the coal. There is a need for rehabilitation to change the road status from the dead trap it is currently.
Few years back, a mind-blowing accident was reported along a road leading to one of the coal mining site. A young man on a motorcycle, rushing his pregnant wife in labour to the hospital, was crushed to death with the wife and unborn baby by a reckless driver conveying coal from site.
This is one out of many excruciating experiences rural communities like Enjema, Olokwu, Awulu, Odele, Odobi, Odopono, Asarane, Onupi, Uboji Ojogado, Odagbo, Ofugo, Ika District, Ejinya Abakpa all with coal deposits had witnessed since the exploration began some 55 years ago. An empirical study of this terrain will plunge you into the depth of sympathy for the residents.
Another glaring consequences of the resource curse in Ankpa is the lack of community development. Despite the significant revenue generated from coal mining, little has been invested in improving basic amenities such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure. The absence of sustainable development initiatives have left the local population marginalized and trapped in a cycle of poverty.
This is a call for the incoming administration to focus on formulating policies that can herald an end to bthis backyard mining. Special committee should be set up to oversee the mining operations and ensure judicious utilization of revenue realized.
The royalty being paid should be commensurate with the resources being extracted. Business ethics should be adhered to, where corporate social responsibility is encouraged.
Kogi State presently occupies low position in the ranking of states with the highest internally generated revenue. If this sector would be properly harnessed, it can boost the revenue to a towering height in the foreseeable future.
The resource curse in Ankpa serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the need for responsible and sustainable resource management. The negative impacts of coal mining extraction, including economic stagnation, environmental degradation, health risks, and social unrest, cannot be ignored. It is imperative for the government, mining companies, and local communities to work together to mitigate the adverse effects of coal mining and ensure that the wealth generated from this resource is channeled towards the holistic development of Ankpa. Only through careful planning, regulation, and investment in alternative sectors can Ankpa break free from the resource curse and pave the way for a brighter and more sustainable future.
Yakub writes from Abuja.
