As Nigeria’s mining sector records over $800 million in investments due to ongoing federal reforms, Ebonyi State is actively positioning itself in the national discourse on solid minerals development.
During a one-day international conference held at Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, stakeholders from government, academia, and civil society called for the removal of mineral resources from the Exclusive Legislative List of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution. This, they argued, would enable states like Ebonyi—rich in solid minerals—to play a more direct role in regulating mining activities and benefiting from associated revenues.
Themed “Solid Minerals in Ebonyi State: The Government and the People,” the conference was organized by the Ebonyi State Ministry of Solid Minerals in partnership with Ebonyi State University and the Ike Elechi Foundation. The event focused on enhancing research, data management, and the responsible exploration of the state’s vast mineral deposits.
Declaring the conference open, Governor Francis Nwifuru—represented by the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Oguzu Offia Nwali—noted that Ebonyi is endowed with numerous mineral resources. However, the current federal control has limited the state’s ability to ensure social responsibility and compensation for host communities affected by mining.
“Our government has created an enabling environment for investment,” Nwifuru said. “But for real progress, there must be constitutional reform that allows states to contribute more meaningfully to policy and regulation.”
The call comes at a time when Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, announced that the sector generated over ₦38 billion in 2024 and attracted massive processing investments, including lithium projects in Kaduna, Abuja, and Nasarawa.
Although none of these high-profile projects are located in Ebonyi, the state’s stakeholders believe that localizing control over mineral licensing could open the door to similar investments in the Southeast.
The conference marks a growing push from Ebonyi’s leadership to ensure that the state benefits more equitably from its mineral wealth.
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