ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION AND MINERS – HOST COMMUNITIES’ CONFLICT IN IJESALAND

Abstract

  Conflict in mining industries is a global phenomenon, which manifests in varying dimensions. Miners and host community-related problems occur due to many factors in places where natural resources are found. Different environmental issues such as land degradation, water pollution and air pollution have been identified by scholars as general causes of conflict between miners and host communities. All these do affect every other facets of lives of host communities in the areas of personal, social, and communal co-habitation, among others. This study focuses on environmental damage as a cause of conflict between miners and host communities in Ijesaland, South-West Nigeria. The communities that were understudied are Ijanna-Wasare, Iyemogun and Iyere. With the aid of Stakeholders theory, the study examines conflict associated with mining-induced environmental degradation of the indigenous communities as well as the various methods employed in managing or resolving this conflict. It argues that in order to minimise the menace in the host communities, there is a need to create awareness concerning environmental damages associated with mining activities in Ijesaland. In addition, government interventions in the form of reviewing the laws guiding artisanal and small-scale mining as well as institutional strengthening of solid mineral mining authorities will go a long way in minimising conflict. Also, collaboration among all stakeholders is essential in the prevention and management of conflict in the host communities.