24/08/2026
When a mining company operates in a community, an important question arises:
Who protects the rights and interests of the people who live there?
This question was central to our recent research, “Rights in Limbo: An Appraisal of the Rights of Mining Host Communities under the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007,” co-authored with Dr. Dauda Iliya Gusnung. David Gusnung
Mining is often discussed in terms of mineral resources, investment and economic development.
But there is another side of the conversation: the communities where these resources are found.
Their land, livelihoods, environment and relationship with mining activities deserve serious legal attention.
Our research examines the legal position of mining host communities under Nigeria's mining law and raises important questions about whether the existing framework adequately safeguards their interests.
For me, this is not simply a question of mining law. It is a question of law, development and justice.
What do you think should be the strongest legal protection available to communities hosting mining activities?
