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INTRODUCTION/CHAPTER ONE 1.1 Background to the Study There is the availability of about thirty-four (34) solid minerals identified in four hundred and fifty (450) locations in Nigeria. Lar [2018]. Among these solid minerals is granite, one of the most widely used solid minerals in Nigeria. As listed on the website of the Ministry of mines and steel development, granite is found in almost all the states of the federation such as Abuja (FCT), Cross River, Ekiti, Abia, Ebonyi, Ogun, Edo, Benue, Yobe, Kaduna, Ondo, Nasarawa, Oyo, Kwara State, etc.

Granite is a natural stone, varying color of red, pink, grey, or white, with dark mineral visible grains, mainly composed of quartz (SiO2) and feldspar (rich in potassium) with fewer amounts of 02mica, amphiboles. It is mined by the Drilling method or Jet Piercing method but whatever method is used to get this mineral, it can still be subjected to sawing, polishing, and even sandblasting. Granites are primarily used in monuments, buildings, paving and bridges, construction, stair treads, and tile floors. It has created numerous employment opportunities in the respective host communities and can ultimately improve the long-term community and economic development. According to Olade [1 volume 2, issue 1, 2019, p.1-16]

Solid mineral and other mining sectors contributed 0.5% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2018, with annual production averaging 40 million metric tons valued at about 34 billion nairas ($95 million US dollars). The solid minerals with the largest production are industrial rocks; limestone, laterite, sand, clay, shale, and granite which constitute over 95% of production by tonnage and 90% by value.

But on the negative, the mining of granites can also lead to environmental degradation which is a case that formed the trust of this research because environmental degradation seems to be something that is on the increase and can lead to environmental unsustainability. And what happened when this degradation occurs? The inhabitant is in danger and even the vegetation is on the verge of extinction because of the things that are being mined and the processes of the mining which in turn has the tendency to affect the ozone layer.

One of the states that conduct granite mining operations to a large extent is Abia State. Abia State is located in the eastern part of Nigeria. According to [2010], granite is being found in different locations in Abia state such as Lokpa-Ukwu, Ishiagu, Lekwesi, and Uturu among many others. Granite mining in Abia state started in about the fourth decade of the twentieth century through external agencies. Colonial rule in Nigeria marked the beginning of granite and lead/zinc ore mining in this area, and thus introduced another dimension to the economy of the area. About two major factors were responsible for the development and growth of granite mining in the state. One was the colonial rule, as stated above, that started development projects like the construction of rail-line, motor roads, and housing projects among others and the second factor was the availability of granite deposits in the state. But in recent times, the value of these granites depreciated.

In as much as the value has depreciated, granite mining is still being conducted in the LopkaUkwu community of Umunnochi Local Government Area, Abia State, in such a way that it is not regulated, yet its process is still being continued, thus resulting in environmental degradation such as the creation of gullies, destruction of vegetation, destruction of farm and inhabitable land. Environmental degradation is a situation where the physical environment is harmed as a result of man’s quest in harnessing natural resources and can have a compassing negative effect if not governed properly. For instance, there have been consistent conflicts since the 1990s which have posed threats to national security between the people of Niger Delta against the government/oil companies in the region. The primary cause of these conflicts is the effect of the environmental degradation that oil spillage has caused on the community.

This is the foundation upon which this research is based because the regulation of granite mining in the Lokpa-Ukwu community is an issue that bothers the trend of natural resource governance. Natural resource governance refers to the control, norms, institutions, and processes that determine how finances, power, and responsibilities over natural resources are exercised, how decisions are taken, and how citizens – women, men, indigenous people, and local communities participate in and benefit from the management of natural resources and how to strike a balance between harnessing natural resources and environmental protection and preservation. The overarching goal of the natural resource governance framework is to set standards and guidance for policy-makers at all levels to make better and more just decisions on the use of natural resources and the distribution of nature’s benefits, following good governance principles, such that improved governance will enhance the contributions of ecosystem and biodiversity to equity and sustainability to ensure sustainable development. [Development that meets the need of the present generation without compromising the future generation from meeting their own need]. But in the Lokpa-Ukwu granite mining community, it seems resource governance is still less or lacking, resulting in not only environmental degradation but also communal conflicts. For instance, according to Okoli [2015], the Abia House of Assembly averted a long lasted bloodbath and resolved the dispute on June 8, 2015. The bloodbath in question is the case of a communal problem at Amaubiri in Lokpa-ukwu Umuchieze of Umunneochi LG Area, Abia State over a disagreement between different firms carrying out mining activities in the area. That is to say that irrespective of the importance of these granites, the extent to which they contribute to the development of the community and the people depend more importantly on the governance.

The effectiveness and equity of governance processes critically determine both the extent to which ecosystems contribute to human wellbeing and the long-term prospects for the successful conservation of nature. Managing financial proceeds, securing rights, and sharing power and responsibilities through strengthened natural resource governance benefits both people, the ecosystem, and biodiversity. Thus, governance is a necessary foundation for a just world that values and conserves nature and contributes to the achievement of global sustainable development goals.

The views reflected in the above scenarios are to establish the fact that natural resource governance has an encompassing impact on the financial/economic development or its backwardness, group/societal conflict or peace, and more especially environmental protection or harm. And the nature of natural resource governance. Lokpa-Ukwu Granite mining community of Umunnochi LG Area Abia state, determine the extent environmental degradation is promoted or prevented.

It is against this backdrop that this study will be focusing on natural resource governance and environmental degradation in the Lokpa-Ukwu Granite mining community of Umunnochi LG Area, Abia State, Nigeria from 2014 to 2019.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Mining in Nigeria brought enormous economic prosperity, while at the same time severe environmental degradation. The Nigerian economy grew geometrically during the oil boom era but not much attention was paid to the negative impacts of the exploration on the physical, social, economic, and cultural well-being of the inhabitants of the region and their environment. With time, environmental degradation became severe and affected a major source of livelihood for the people living in the place where these natural resources were mined and it led to economic unproductivity in the regions. This economic stagnation resulted in youth restiveness which has engulfed the region e.g. Niger-Delta in the last two decades. The government became conscious of the need to adopt natural resource governance that will be inclusive and also consider the environment. Both local and international organizations became concerned about the best way to govern natural resources and at the same time preserve the environment to ensure sustainable development. Different environmental policies were formulated both at the international, federal, and state levels. But notwithstanding this attention to natural resource governance and environmental policies, environmental degradation keeps rising daily in Lokpa-Ukwu community of Umunnochi LG Area Abia State, Nigeria as a result of Granite mining operation which has resulted in the creation of gullies, destruction of farmlands, vegetation, etc. in all areas of the community. The depth and wideness of each gully are worrisome and tend to overflow someday and if such a thing happened, the people and the community are in great danger. These gullies will also affect further developmental projects because the gullies are being created a few miles away from the inhabited areas. Below is one of the samples of the gully erosion.

There has been also a non-inclusive distribution of the benefits from the granite in this community in the sense those whose land is not included in the mining areas will be excluded from the financial benefit of this granite, resulting in communal conflicts. If nothing is done, it will result in more consequences and create excessive costs for the government in a long run.

Thus, the study addresses the devastating issue of inadequate and ineffective resource governance in the Lokpa-ukwu community, why is the environment suffering from degradation despite Abia state environmental policies, and how come the distribution of the wealth/benefit from the natural resource is limited to some people and why the community still lack basic social amenities [Water, Light, etc.] despite the presence of different granite mining companies. In addition; the study also tries to bring to its notice, the consequences of the current state of resource control in the study area and its aftermath effect on the people and the environment. It is against these problems that the following research questions are raised;

1. How is granite mining causing environmental degradation in the Lokpa-ukwu community from Abia State 2014-2019?

2. What is the relationship between resource governance and environmental degradation in the Lokpa-ukwu community of Abia State from 2014-to 2019?

3. What are the possible ways to improve resource governance in the Lokpa-ukwu community to ensure environmental protection?

1.3 Objectives of the Study The broad objective of this study is to ascertain how resource governance can help curb environmental degradation in Abia state Nigeria. The study seeks to achieve the following specific;

1. To examine how granite mining is causing environmental degradation in the Lokpa-ukwu community from 2014-to 2019?

2. To ascertain the relationships between resource governance and environmental degradation caused by granite mining in the Lokpa-ukwu community from 2014-to 2019?

3. To find out the ways to improve the nature of natural resource governance in the Lokpaukwu community to ensure environmental protection?

1.4 Significance of the Study

This study is significant in various ways. It has both empirical and theoretical significance. Empirical significance: Empirically, it will make the government and the people aware of the consequent effect of the environmental degradation on the community as a result of the mining operation and the need to improve the nature of the resource governance of the study area to stop/reduce environmental degradation. It will also make the government and other relevant stakeholders see the great economic benefits of granite mining towards achieving economic development in our study area and beyond. The study is also capable of attracting a Federal Government presence to the area to tackle the problem of environmental pollution due to the activities of mining companies. Currently, the Federal Government is addressing the issue of environmental pollution in the oil and solid mineral-producing areas in the country; this study can 5 be an attractive package to stimulate the interest and sympathy of the government in the area. The study will also be useful to international organizations like the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) which is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to improving countries' governance over their natural resources to promote sustainable and inclusive development.

Theoretical significance:

Theoretically, Scholars in the social sciences and other disciplines will find it useful. It provides a safety pad and platform for the social scientists and historians, wishing to undertake further research on mining activities in this and other areas, as well as the impact of these activities on the local communities, and Nigerian society at large. Even scholars in the environmental sciences will also find the study useful. It can excite the interest of geologists to carry out further research in the area to see the possibility of discovering more solid mineral deposits there. Demographers too would like to research the population explosion in the area due to the presence of mining companies and mining operations in the area over time. Research findings by these scholars are capable of highlighting the economic importance of the area and the need for meaningful government presence there. Also, it is a useful addition to the historiography of mining activities in Igboland and Nigeria at large.

1.5 Scope of the study

The study covered activities relating to granite mining in Lokpa-Ukwu from 2014-to 2019. There were reasons for the choice of these scopes as benchmarks for the study. The year 2005 marked a drastic reduction in the number of mining companies that operated in our area of study, but 2014 through 2019 witnessed remarkable mining operations by different companies in the community. Also, noticeable physical environmental degradation went on the increase within these years. There were also noticeable changes in the socio-economic situation of the people within these periods. The study discussed and inspected how granite mining has contributed to environmental degradation in the look-ukwu community from 2014-to 2019, the nature of the degradation, and the socio-economic impact of the operations on the host communities. It also ascertained if natural resource governance can limit the environmental degradation caused by granite mining in the look-ukwu community. And at the end recommended measures to tackle the issue of such degradation.

1.6 Limitations of the Study

The researcher in the course of carrying out this study encountered some limitations. The major limitation of this research was access to data. There were little secondary data on the study area about the topic. Unfortunately, contributions and issues of our study area only captured the interest and attention of a few scholars. Another limitation was access to primary data. Some of the respondents were skeptical to give a direct response to some of the questions due to their confidentiality. Getting adults with good knowledge about the mining operations and at the same time able to express themselves was a limitation and prolonged the completion of chapter four.

Translating some of the respondent’s comments who spoke in their native language (Igbo) to English to reflect the first-person report posed a limitation. 6 But the researcher was able to overcome these limitations through the use of educated class among the population for oral interviews, field observation, and Archival materials. The ability to translate the comments of the respondents from their native language to English was a headway. Critical search on journals, articles, lectures, government documents, constitution, online, unpublished B.S.C. projects, and Ph.D. thesis that was found to be relevant to the study, served as tools to overcome the limitation.

Another limitation was the covid-19 pandemic which resulted in interstate lockdown. The study was carried out in the 2019/2020 academic session, which was also the same period when the coronavirus pandemic was on the increase. It delayed the researcher from traveling to the study areas. To this effect, phone calls were used in some cases where minor clarifications from the respondents were required. But the researcher immediately traveled and completed the interview after the lockdown.

contact augustinec.ukekwe@gmail.com for full work