A Mineral has been defined any substance whether in solid, liquid or gaseous form occurring in or on the earth, formed by or subjected to geological processes including occurrences or deposits of rocks, coal, coal bed gases, bituminous shales, tar sands, any substances that may be extracted from coal, shale or tar sands, mineral water, and mineral components in tailings and waste piles, but with the exclusion of petroleum and waters without mineral content. The development of Nigeria’s mining and minerals sector has been poor compared to the endowments and potentials of that sector. The inability of the country to realize the full potentials of the sector has been attributed to a number of factors including but not limited to – inadequate funding, infrastructural difficulties, lack of adequate geological data, poor regulatory laws, illegal mining operations, poor enforcement of existing laws, pollution, environmental degradation and health impacts, economic exploitation and poverty of communities, etc. These challenges have negatively impacted the mining industry and has left it severely underdeveloped. This paper highlights the challenges that has militated the mining sector and discusses the effectiveness or otherwise of the regulatory laws in addressing the challenges.
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About the Author
Olivia Uzoma Ezekwe is a Lawyer, Writer and Communication Specialist with expertise in gender, governance, human rights, and development communication. She combines her strong legal background with strategic communication skills to produce rights-based analysis, public-facing content, and advocacy-driven storytelling.
Her work focuses on legal research, policy interpretation, and social development communication, using writing, digital media, and narrative strategy to amplify marginalized voices and strengthen public understanding of justice, equity, and accountability. She creates research-informed content that supports dialogue on women’s rights, community protection, and inclusive governance.
With experience across law, development, and communication, she brings a multidisciplinary approach to shaping narratives, supporting evidence-based advocacy, and advancing people-centred social change.