The House of Representatives has begun consideration of a bill seeking to establish a commission to protect the rights of mining host communities and ensure they benefit directly from Nigeria’s solid mineral resources.

The proposed legislation, sponsored by Sunday Dekeri, scaled second reading in July 2024 and was the subject of a public hearing organised by the Committee on Solid Minerals Development on Thursday.

Stakeholders expressed mixed views at the hearing. Community leaders welcomed the bill, describing it as long overdue, while some industry operators cautioned that its provisions could duplicate existing laws and discourage investment.

Presenting a memorandum, Redzie Jugo of the Federation of Nigerian Mining Host Communities accused successive governments and companies of treating host communities as “sacrifice zones.”

“Host communities are left in poverty and environmental ruin despite being the source of immense wealth,” Jugo said.

He urged lawmakers to ensure host communities are represented in decision-making processes and that a fair share of mineral wealth is reinvested locally. He added that the proposed commission symbolises dignity and justice long denied to host communities.

However, industry representatives raised concerns. Mining consultant with Dangote Industries Ltd, Teslim Jimoh, argued that some provisions of the bill could clash with the Minerals and Mining Act, which designates the federal government as the custodian of mineral resources.

He warned that mandatory equity ownership and profit-sharing requirements could undermine investor confidence. Instead, he called for stronger enforcement of existing community development agreements, which are legally required to be signed and renewed every five years.

Committee Chairperson, Gaza Gbefwi, assured that lawmakers were determined to prioritise the welfare of host communities. He blamed weak enforcement of existing agreements for the underdevelopment of mining regions despite the profits generated by operators.

Drawing parallels with the Niger Delta’s experience, Gbefwi said Nigeria must avoid repeating the mistakes that led to conflict and agitation in the oil-producing region.

He pledged that the committee would work with the Ministry of Solid Minerals and stakeholders to harmonise the bill with existing laws, stressing that the House would not support any legislation that discourages investment but would equally not allow host communities to remain impoverished amid mineral wealth.