Senate seeks investigation into mining industries, calls for remediation

The Senate is investigating some mining industry players, as their focus is on the abuse of mining operations. The concern is about not covering up the pits they dug before exiting the sites they operate.

Senator Ekong Sampson (PhD), who represents Akwa Ibom South, said this on Wednesday, 30 July 2025, when speaking about the future of Nigeria’s extractive sector in Uyo.

Speaking on the theme: “Transitions, divestments, and critical minerals: Charting a just future for Nigeria’s Extractive Sector,” said every mining industry was supposed to ensure that its activities are not dangerous to the environment in which it operates.

He added that their operation must be transparent and that their investment must not be harmful to the communities while pursuing their business interests.

Besides targeting mining firms, Sampson asked communities to be mindful of the miners’ activities. Sampson urged the youth and community leaders to remain aware of their responsibilities, adding that their operations should add value to life and not destroy it.

According to him, the communities had to be vigilant, their interests protected with major safeguards in place. He said that the community should ensure that investments by the mining industries are not harmful to the communities.

He assured communities that senate is calling for remediation so that no companies could leave the sites they had messed up.

He said: “The communities should be vigilant and their interests principally protected. They should have in place major safeguards that would ensure their investments are beneficial to communities.

“The companies must pursue their business interest, but the interests of the community must also be protected. These call for transparency, collaboration, and good faith.

“The Senate is investigating some industry players and the abuse in mining. We have called for a process of remediation in appropriate cases.

“The mining pit should be closed. It should be covered when there is an exit of the operators. This occurs in the process of divestment. Otherwise, there will be mass graves. Communities should be alive to industry politics.”