Uncategorized
Nigeria’s Indebtedness To Igala kingdom
BY THEOPHILUS ABBAH
*The Main Issue*
For those who clearly understand pre-colonial Nigeria’s political, social and economic setting, the Federal High Court judgment was not a snake bite or the stinging of bees – they are not in any way shocked. For instance, the Ibo nation is not in denial of their ancient, precolonial relationship with the Igala kingdom, and the imprint is not denied in Anambra State where, up till today, there is a sizeable portion of communities with Igala ancestry. Igbo trader sknew that their routes to access the old Kwararafa kingdom ran through the confluence of Rivers Niger and Benue at Lokoja. The river flows through that space into the Atlantic Ocean. Historical evidence bears the fact that Igala kingdom was founded by two brothers, Igala and Bunda (Kakanda). While Igala was based at Idah, Kakanda had his base at Okuta Ihabe, which was to later become a stone market (Ajaokuta). Today, there is a sizeable population of aboriginal Igala, who are led by Onu Igala at Ajaokuta. His reign is older than that of Ebira traditional head in the area.
Several sources state that the Chronicles of Abuja spoke of the extensive influence of Idah over the Abuja territories – Umaisha, Toto, Koton Karfi, and even Abaji. In their work, Narrative of the Expedition to the River Niger, William Allen and T.R.H. Thompson explained that as at 1841, “The Ata was King of the Igala state, with its capital at Idah, at this time an important commercial centre on the Niger, with historic connexions southwards with Benin and northwards with Nupe.” The authors showed how powerful Attah was in 1841, when His Royal Majesty rejected a gift brought to him by explorers from the Queen of England, and refused an offer to travel by boat to England to meet the Queen to discuss trade relations, saying those were activities that ‘servants’ carried out.
Because the sea was the means of transportation and the link between them and Niger Area, European traders had to establish trade and diplomatic ties with the king in control of the great rivers, and, in that era, the king was Attah Igala. To express the depth of the relationship, the colonialists built a seaport and an airstrip at Idah, the headquarters of the Igala State. Before the Nigerian civil war began in 1967, Idah had a thriving seaport, preferred by European traders to the port at Lokoja. The port had to be closed as a result of bomb attacks from Biafra army. The aerodrome constructed at Idah was put out of use because of the war. For traders from Europe, Idah port was strategic for transporting palm oil and palm kernel from Igbo and Igalaland, on the one hand, and for moving cotton from Hausaland to their continent. Even in the 1960s, Idah was a thriving port city. The government of the late President Umar Musa Yar’adua/Goodluck Jonathan awarded a contract to revive the port, but the project was not completed. In the book, Nigerian Perspectives: An Historical Anthology, by Thomas Hodghin, the author alluded to the fact that Igala kingdom stood erect in comparison with the ancient Benin Kingdom, Oduduwa Kingdom, Hausa Kingdom, and the Bonny’s King Opubu.
In the precolonial era, the political arrangement was more like a confederacy. Confederacy is a political system in which different ethnic communities or peoples come under one authority in order to pursue a common aim. The Kwararafa Kingdom was very large, but it was because other ethnic communities, accepted to come under the reign of the Aku Uka, in order to be protected from enemies who might wage war against them. In this way, the ethnic communities around the confluence came under the umbrella of the Attah whose army was powerful enough to protect them from invaders, including Fulani Jihadists, who had swept through Hausaland to install Fulani emirs in place of traditonal chiefs. The evidence of this military might command by the army of Attah Igala is there for anyone to see – in all the territories around the confluence river, there is no emir or emirate. If the Fulani possesses any political power in this area today, it is simply as a result of modern political arrangements.
The indebtedness. An Igala proverb says “a barren woman does not suffer child bereavement.” If the British had paid up the full sum of 700,000 cowries, nobody would have been nagging about ‘Igala imperialism’ in 2020. No matter how rich a man is, he hardly forgets those who are indebted to him. That is what is playing out in the courts today. Historically, the Quaker Society of London, a missionary organization, which had campaigned against slavery sought to use the land from Ajaokuta to Lokoja as a model farm to halt slave trade. Slaves were taken to Europe to work on plantations. The Quakers argued that it would be better for Africans to, in their own country, plant those crops for which they were enslaved in Europe, and export the produce by sea to Europe, instead of being dehumanized as slaves in foreign lands. Those who want to know more about the Quakers can read up the roles these missionaries played in the fight to halt slave trade. The Queen of Great Britain and Ireland signed the Deed, while a representative of Attah also signed. Though the model farm project thrived for some years, it was thwarted by the activities of Fulani Jihadists who raided the farms. But the colonial government used Lokoja as Nigeria’s first administrative headquarters – without paying up the balance for the land. Incidentally, people from all walks of life came to settle in Lokoja under the new political arrangement, which has subsisted up till the present day.
Unless they have decided to play the ostrich, all traditional institutions in Kogi State are not ignorant of this historical fact. In Igala, there is a proverb which says, “if you own a property but are afraid to claim it, then it is not yours.” Like every government, the institution of Attah is a continuum. The indebtedness to Attah Igala in 1841 is an indebtedness to Attah Igala in 2020. In the same manner, the debt owed by colonial government that gave birth to the current system of government is a debt that hangs on the neck of the Buhari administration. What the court has asked the federal government to pay Attah Igala is a domestic debt. Though the transaction is over 200 years old, a debt is a debt, unless it is negotiated and written off. It is in this sense that Africans are seeking reparation from today’s Europe and America over slave trade that ended almost 200 years ago. In 2020, Namibians are seeking reparation from German government, for material damages and loss of lives that occurred during Germany’s colonial rule from 1884 to 1915. In America, there are deliberate policies to provide reliefs of all kinds to aboriginal Red Indians, who were displaced for modern America to be established.
In contemporary Nigeria, the Land Use Act gives governors control over land, but if such land is being used for projects in the interest of the public, compensation must be paid to the ‘traditional owners’ of such land. So, why must Attah Igala be shot down for seeking the repayment of an old debt? Some traditional institutions want to appeal the Federal High Court judgment. Not exactly because they have a stake; not because Attah is asking them to be evacuated from Lokoja and Ajaokuta. No. Their intention is to do the impossible – alter history, fight the past. May God grant us wisdom to pick the battles we fight.
Abbah wrote this piece from Abuja.
By Elizabeth Okwe| April 30, 2025
In what many have described as a timely and courageous step, Hon. Yahaya Umar, the lawmaker representing Omala State Constituency in the Kogi State House of Assembly, is receiving accolades for raising the alarm over the environmental and public health crisis caused by coal mining in his constituency.
The motion, which called for an immediate suspension of all mining activities in Omala Local Government Area, has drawn commendation from across the state — most notably from the Convener of the Kogi Professionals Network and seasoned development administrator, Dr. James Odaudu.
Reacting to the motion, Dr. Odaudu described Hon. Umar’s action as “a courageous stand in defence of environmental justice,” saying it was refreshing to see a legislator so passionately defending the health and welfare of his constituents.
According to him, “These mining companies were licensed to support Nigeria’s electricity development goals, yet instead of power, they have brought pollution, contaminated rivers, and destroyed farmlands in host communities.”
He praised the Kogi State House of Assembly for backing the motion and setting up an ad-hoc committee to investigate the matter, describing it as “how democracy is supposed to work — responsive and people-centered.”Dr. Odaudu, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, also issued a passionate appeal to the Government of Kogi State to move swiftly beyond legislative action and implement practical relief measures for affected communities.
Dr. James Odaudu
Convener, Kogi Professionals Network
“We urge the State Government to begin immediate clean-up of polluted water sources in Omala and surrounding areas, while putting in place a sustainable plan to provide potable water as a long-term solution,” he stressed.
He further emphasized the need for mining companies operating in the state to honor their corporate social responsibilities and sign enforceable Community Development Agreements (CDAs) with the local government administrations in line with global best practices.
“Profiteering must not come at the expense of our people’s lives and their future, We trust that the government of Governor Usman Ododo will do the needful as usual ” Dr. Odaudu added.
The coal mining controversy in Omala and other parts of Kogi State has stirred increasing public concern, with calls for stronger regulation, corporate accountability, and community protection gaining momentum.
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Environmental Pollution: Kogi Assembly Calls for Immediate Suspension of Mining Activities in Omala LGA
The Kogi State House of Assembly has called for the immediate suspension of all mining activities in Omala Local Government Area of the state pending the outcome of the investigation and further legislative action.
The call is sequel to a motion of urgent public importance on Wednesday moved by the lawmaker representing Omala State Constituency, Yahaya Umar calling on the State Government to stop the pollution of rivers and environment by coal mining activities in the local government.
The House also called on the State Government and relevant federal regulatory agencies (Federal Ministry of Mines, Mining Cadastre)
to urgently intervene by mandating a full-scale investigation into the activities of miners and assessing the environmental and health impacts of coal mining activities in Omala LGA and across Kogi State.
Presenting the motion before the house, Umar asked the Assembly to urgently address the growing environmental and public health crisis resulting from the activities of coal mining companies in Omala and other parts of Kogi State.
He said, “I urge this Honourable House to note that the original idea behind licensing coal miners in Kogi State was largely part of the Nigerian Electricity Vision 30:30:30 and the Rural Electrification Strategy and Implementation Plan (RESIP) which were rolled out in 2015 and aimed at diversifying our power mix and increase renewable energy contributions to the national grid.
Hon. Umar Yahaya
“Coal was expected to contribute 4°% of power generation by 2020, and 10% by 2030. But today, that dream has not only failed to materialize, it has turned into a nightmare for our communities.
For over eight years coal mining firms were licensed to mine coal in Kogi State with the stated goal of power generation, including: Rockbottom Mines and Power, Mosra Enerji Ltd, and others.
“However, most of these firms have failed to deliver any measurable electricity contribution to the national grid. Rather than powering our homes, these coal mining activities — particularly in Oloku on the outskirts of Abejukolo, Omala LGA — have led to serious pollution of rivers, destruction of farmlands and contamination of the very water sources that thousands of our constituents rely upon for drinking, cooking, sanitation and irrigation.
“Alarmed that companies like Rockbottom Mines and Mosra Enerji Ltd are discharging acidic coal waste and heavy metals into the Alugbo River, which has now threatened the major water system that flows downstream through Edihi and links to the Omala River — the same river from which our Local Government derives its name. Communities such as Oloku, Otti, Icheke Ajedibo, Ikeffi, Oliya, Ibadan, Kaduna, Efiwo, Ajaja, Ogoh, Abejukolo and others are all affected. These facts are disturbing.
When coal seams are exposed to air and water, they produce acid mine drainage, leaching toxic metals like arsenic, lead, and copper into surrounding water bodies. These poisons do not just pollute rivers, they accumulate in the food chain and pose serious health risks to both humans and livestock. The science is clear about this.
“Worried that this water contamination will not only put the health and livelihoods of thousands of citizens at risk but disrupt agricultural activities, causing land degradation, and endangering aquatic life and biodiversity in the area.”
He pointed out that while these companies profit from their land and resources, many of the host communities have no access to electricity, no alternative water supply, and no meaningful community benefits.
These mining operations, though licensed for power generation, have failed to deliver on their core mandate while the host communities continue to bear the brunt of the environmental damage caused by the mining activities.”
Continuing, he said, “Similar environmental concerns are being raised in Ankpa LGA, where other companies, including Zuma 828 Ltd and Dangote, operate coal mining sites with limited regard for community benefit or environmental remediation. As an institution, we must, therefore, act – not tomorrow, but now.
“Environmental degradation is not just a rural issue; it is a governance issue, a health issue, a justice issue – and it is within our constitutional mandate to act in the interest of our people.”
He prayed that an Ad-hoc Committee be constituted to investigate the activities of coal mining firms in the affected areas, particularly Rockbottom Mines and Mosra Enerji Ltd, and report its findings with actionable recommendations to the House.
Seconding the motion, Jacob Olawumi, member representing Mopamuro State Constituency, asserted that it was pathetic to see that Kogi State is suffering from the natural resources given to it by God, adding that all companies working against the agreement with the state must be sanctioned.
The Vice Chairman, House Standing Committee on Solid Minerals, Abu Onoru-Oiza Jibrin, described the motion as disturbing.
“The reason why I say this is disturbing is because it involves human lives and animals. Mining companies are taking advantage of us. It is unacceptable to see that mining companies are just after what they are gaining and not looking at what they are doing in our State.
“It is my position for this honorable house to invite this companies to ascertain their scorecard. We must stop them from further mining exercise until they find solutions to the problem on ground. If they failed to meet our demands, we will ban them from mining in Kogi State,” he stated.
Throwing his weight on the motion, the lawmaker representing Kogi Koton Karfe State Constituency, Idrees Aliyu Maikudi blamed the royal fathers in various communities for engaging on illegal activities with some miners in the state. “Some miners will visit these traditional rulers with small envelopes and they will immediately grant them access to mine in our land. This must stop,” he warned.
Yusuf Zakari from Okene II Constituency argued that there is need to enact a law banning sales of land to companies with minimal deposits.
Ruling on the motion, the Deputy Speaker of the House who presided over the sitting described it as disturbing, noting that environmental degradation is a collective responsibility for all to tackle in the state.
She sounded a note of warning to miners in Kogi State, stating that they have over the years deviated from their social responsibilities to their host communities.
“It is not just in Omala, Ankpa, Ijumu, and Ajaokuta, it cuts across all the state. This time, we must take proactive actions before they keep polluting our environment and killing our people.
“All coal mining companies operating in Omala, Ankpa, and other parts of Kogi State should implement enforceable Community Development Agreements (CDAs) and fulfil their corporate social responsibility (CSR) obligations to host communities in line with global best practices,” she said.
The House also resolved that the Kogi State Ministry of Solid Minerals be mandated to carry out an immediate compliance audit of all mining operations in the state and ensure strict adherence to national environmental and mining guidelines.
It also directed that the State Government should provide emergency alternative sources of clean water to the affected communities.
The Deputy Speaker set up a five man adhoc committee to look into the matters and report back to the Assembly in two weeks.
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