Education
UNN VC calls for responsible mining with environmental protection, social justice – EnviroNews
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The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, has called on Nigeria to adopt a sustainable approach to mining that promotes economic growth while protecting the environment and preventing conflicts in host communities.
Prof. Ortuanya made the call on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Abuja while delivering a keynote address titled “Mining for Economic Growth: Promoting Sustainable Environment and Conflict Management in Nigeria” at the annual conference of the Nigerian Environmental Study Action Team (NEST) held at the National Universities Commission (NUC) Auditorium.
The Vice-Chancellor said Nigeria’s vast mineral resources could transform the nation’s economy through diversification, industrialisation, employment generation and increased investment, but warned that poorly regulated mining activities could result in environmental degradation, social displacement and violent conflicts.
Prof. Ortuanya stressed that the central challenge before Nigeria was how to harness its mineral wealth for national development while maintaining environmental integrity and social harmony.
According to him, Nigeria possesses significant deposits of solid minerals including gold, coal, limestone, iron ore, bitumen, tin, columbite and lithium, but the country has yet to fully realise the economic potential of the sector due to limited large-scale mining operations and regulatory challenges.
Prof Ortuanya noted that a properly managed mining sector could reduce Nigeria’s dependence on crude oil, create jobs, stimulate manufacturing and attract foreign direct investment, particularly in critical minerals needed for the global transition to clean energy.
However, the Vice-Chancellor identified land degradation, deforestation, water pollution, biodiversity loss and abandoned mine sites as major environmental consequences associated with mining activities, especially illegal and poorly regulated artisanal mining.
He cited the lead poisoning crisis linked to unsafe mining activities in Zamfara State as a reminder of the severe public health risks that can arise when environmental regulations are not effectively enforced.
On mining-related conflicts, Prof. Ortuanya explained that disputes over resource control, land ownership, community rights and unequal distribution of mining benefits have continued to fuel tensions in several mineral-rich areas of Nigeria.
He advocated stronger community participation, noting that host communities should not only bear the environmental burden of extraction but should also benefit from the resources in their territories. He said mechanisms such as Community Development Agreements must be effectively implemented to promote fairness and sustainable development.
Prof. Ortuanya also called for stronger environmental regulation, improved monitoring systems, better enforcement of mining laws and greater transparency in the management of mineral resources.
He emphasised the need to formalise artisanal and small-scale mining operations by providing miners with legal recognition, training, safer technologies and access to finance, arguing that formalisation would reduce environmental damage and improve accountability.
The Vice-Chancellor further highlighted the role of universities in promoting sustainable mining practices through research, innovation, manpower development and evidence-based policy recommendations. He said the University of Nigeria was contributing through its research centres focused on environment, energy and resource governance.
Prof. Ortuanya concluded by urging Nigeria to pursue a mining governance model built on environmental responsibility, transparency, social inclusion and effective conflict management to ensure that mineral resources contribute to sustainable national development.
