abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb
Report

7 Jun 2016

Author:
Global Rights

Nigeria: NGO’s report exposes the negative community impacts of coal mining and coal power generation

“Power at What Cost? A Report on the Impact of Coal Mining  and Coal Power Generation in Okobo and Itobe Communities in Kogi State”, 21 April 2016

[In two rural communities of Okobo and Itobe in Kogi State, the report found out that]...At Okobo [where mining operations are in progress]...their land was deceitfully taken over by the company (ETA Zuma)...The only [water stream] at Okobo has been polluted by the activities of the mining company...women and children travel long distances daily to fetch water...In addition, waste water from the mining pit is disposed into the common water body, further polluting it and making it unsuitable for both domestic and human consumption...Most women are farmers and their cops have been adversely affected by the mining project...If statistics from other parts of the world where coal energy forms an integral part of their energy pool is to be considered, the residents of Itobe [where coal mining is yet to commence] may be better off without the coal mine in their vicinity.

[Some of the recommendations from the report are]:

  • There is an urgent need for the government to supervise the remediation of Okobo community...and to ensure that the effects of further coal mining activities do not overwhelm the environment or their host communities.
  • The government should ensure that the land reclamation policies are implemented by companies involved and when these companies fail to adopt these policies, enforcement should be ensured.
  • If Nigeria resolves to continue with its 30% coal power generation policy, then it must take extraneous care to ensure that the rights of these host communities are protected...

[We invited ETA Zuma to respond and they indicated that they would respond but have not yet done so. We will indicate here whether they do or not.]