Gujeni: A Kaduna community taken over by poisonous soot

Residents of Gujeni, a cluster of agrarian communities in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State, are battling severe environmental pollution allegedly caused by emissions from an iron ore processing plant operated by African Natural Resources and Mines Limited (ANRML), which they say has destroyed farmlands, contaminated food, endangered health and stripped them of livelihoods.

For years, thick black soot from the plant’s rotary kilns has settled daily on homes, farms, water sources, trees and livestock across Gujeni and neighbouring villages, turning what was once fertile land into what residents describe as a toxic environment, Weekend Trust reports.

Pains and agony

“If you had come before the company was built in our community, I would have offered you some mangoes or oranges to take to your fill but that is not possible again. We have the trees in abundance but they are no longer growing, even if they grow, we can’t eat them due to the black soot that has covered our whole community.”

Those were the words of 59-year-old Angelina Stephen used to welcome this reporter when he introduced himself as a journalist visiting communities in Kujeni for first-hand information on the environmental challenges occasioned by gaseous pollutants from the firm operating in the area.

Angelina spoke on behalf of other women winnowing beans near her mud house, just metres from soot-darkened trees. Leaning against a trunk for support, she said the company’s arrival, once welcomed with hope, has instead brought hunger, illness and fear.

“For many years, now, you can’t leave your food uncovered as it will be covered by soot before you are back; the air we breathe is no longer oxygen but what the company gives us to inhale,” she said.

On her part, Agnes Clement, a widow and subsistence farmer, said the pollution wiped out her only means of survival.

“My husband died and left me this farmland. When I planted maize, the smoke destroyed it. I planted beans, nothing came out. I had to beg people just to feed my children.”

The football jersey and wrapper she wore were stained with soot, a familiar sight in the community. She said the greatest pain is not just the polluted air but the loss of land fertility.

She lamented that soot infiltrates bedrooms, wardrobes and kitchens, making life unbearable for people.

“There is no difference between sleeping inside or outside. Everything is black. We used to get lots of food on the farm but the smoke has given us major problems that when you plant a tree, they can’t grow well due to the effect of the smoke.”

She explained that before the company was built, life in the community was filled with happiness with no worries about what to eat as the land was enough to provide for its inhabitants’ food to eat and sell but since its arrival, there have been different issues plaguing them.

“It was when the company came that we started facing problems. We don’t know where the community is heading to

Gujeni: A black town

The town of Gujeni is located 90km from the Nigeria’s capital, Abuja and for years has hosted the important artery road of Abuja-Kaduna highway that serves as the entry point of the country’s seat of power to the North.

Passing along the section of the road at Gujeni, the rotary kilns that emit soot from the African Natural Resources and Mines Limited, an iron ore processing plant, are hard to miss as their height is second to none among the physical structures there.

The plant would make visitors view the area as an industrialisation zone as its billowing smoke made the surrounding enmeshed in black.

Not the hill within the company’s vicinity could resist rejecting the black soot the kiln spews daily.

But beneath the façade of industralisation are villages named Maraban-Babu, Anguwar Gopai and Anguwar Sarki, all siting within 250 meters to the company, that have borne the brunt of the negative impact of the plant.

Babu is located opposite the company with the Abuja-Kaduna highway passing through the two.

For Anguwar Gopai, it is situated behind the hill that serves as a physical barrier while Anguwar Sarki is 500 meters from Anguwar Gopai.

The barriers and little distance could not stop the connivance of the kiln and the wind that carries the soot from the plant to these villages.

According to a Social and Environmental Impact Assessment posted on the website of the company and dated 2021 estimated the population of the community as 20,000 while the life expectancy is 44 years.

Most roofs here are coated in black with specks of blackness visible on all building walls, still-water and trees that are supposed to radiate lush green.

In Gujeni, I was told the wind is the king as it dictates which of the villages should be soiled with soot.

It was gathered that during the rainy season, the wind blows east, directing the emission to Anguwar Gopai and Sarki and during the dry season, it becomes the turn of Babu to host the soot.

Animals that are reared in the communities like sheep and cows, whose furs are white, have all been soiled in the blackness that has permeated the villages.

Some animals could also be seen eating from the abundant vegetation in the community, but gulping them down together with the soot that has rested on the leaves.

‘We cough out black substances’

A resident of Gopai village, Martha Emmanuel, raised concern over the impact of the soot, saying, they often cough out black substances.

“We need your help. The poor people of this community are suffering. When you cough, black substances come out of your mouth. When you blow your nose, there are traces of it,” she wailed.

She said the problem affects both the young and the old, using a vivid euphemism to describe how children in the community look.

“Our children are now mechanics. They are always covered in black, and nowhere in the community is safe for them to play,” she said.

According to her, children in the community bathe three to four times daily in an attempt to wash off the black soot. If this is not done, they look permanently dirty.

“They can’t wear the same clothes throughout the day. Because children love to play, we end up washing many clothes daily. We can’t watch them all the time to know if they put the soot in their mouths,” she added.

At Babu, Alice Ishaku was seen vigorously washing her children’s clothes beside a stream that flows into the community after meandering through ANRML and Gopai Village.

Nearby, her two children sat on the grass, closely monitored to ensure they did not engage in unsafe play, as she laboured to restore a white cloth smudged with black soot to its original colour.

“You can see the cloth I’m washing. The water has turned black because of the soot they carry on their bodies,” she said. “We have not benefited anything from this company since it came to this community.”

She explained that the community relies on wells and the stream for domestic use, as the company failed to provide basic amenities, unlike in Anguwar Gopai and Sarki, where boreholes were provided.

“We have been suffering. I know the government is aware of our plight, but they are not interested in taking action against the company. I mop my floor every day because of the soot. Sometimes, when it falls, it hits the roof like raindrops,” she said.

Matthew Dauda Asake, who was harvesting beans on his farm at Babu, said he barely harvested two bags each of beans and soya beans during the last farming season.

He explained that he used one bag of seeds for each crop and should ordinarily have harvested between 13 and 15 bags if not for the emissions from the company, which he said had become a nuisance to farmlands.

Showing his room to illustrate how helpless residents are, Abba Aliyu lamented that walls offer no protection from the soot.

“Look at where I sleep. I have to clean the room every day, or my feet will turn black. Even the inner walls are stained. If I repaint, it won’t last up to a month before the black returns,” he said.

Aminu Ibrahim said that at times, the emissions blanket the entire community, making it difficult to see what lies ahead.

“Look at the roofs. Look at the mango trees—they no longer bear fruit. Anything planted in the soil barely grows,” he said. “We were told that when the company came, we would be paid compensation every year, but we have received nothing. When our land was taken, we were told the money would complement our farm income. It was all lies.”

He added that residents of Maraban Babu had to contribute money to dig a borehole after the stream they once depended on became unsafe for drinking.

According to him, the prolonged suffering has sparked calls for protest, with youths waiting for a directive from community elders before taking action.

Our land collected after peanuts

For many residents, the emissions are not the only hardship they endure daily. Equally painful, they say, are the lies and betrayal that followed the surrender of their farmlands to the company.

Speaking with Weekend Trust, the community head of Maraban Babu, Sabo Dogo, said he received just N570,000 as compensation for more than one hectare of land, after being taken to the bank with promises of annual payments from the company to him and other landowners.

“When the company wanted our land, we were promised electricity, hospitals, schools, potable water, among other things. They also promised compensation that would be paid to us regularly. But since operations began, we have not benefited even N10 from the company,” he said.

Dogo explained that residents of Maraban Babu surrendered about 300 hectares of land. Although compensation was paid, he said it was merely tokenistic.

“My own portion of land is more than one hectare, and I received N570,000. That is all,” he said.

Asked why he accepted what he described as inadequate compensation, Dogo said he did so believing the company would fulfil its promise of yearly payments.

“They told us that every year, those who gave out land would benefit from the company’s profits after expenses. But whenever we remind them, they say they are still under construction and cannot pay yet. This is now the fourth year of their operation,” he added.

He said the community had been prosperous before the company arrived, as the vast land supported farming activities.

“Our land is very large. We used to farm rice, yam, cassava, ginger and other crops. Now, we can no longer do that,” he lamented.

Bashir Sani, a Fulani community leader, said he had bad feeling from the company because he believed the land was grossly undervalued.

“I sensed there would be problems in the future. There was no land survey and no lawyer to advise the community on the compensation at first,” he said.

According to him, the company arrived with cheques of N100,000 or N200,000, depending on the size of the farmland.

“Some people initially refused to collect the money, but they were pressured after the late community head of Gujeni said he would not take responsibility for complaints from those who rejected it,” Sani said.

He added that some landowners were offered the option of applying for alternative land in a nearby community, but more than seven years later, nothing had come of it.

“We were told to apply through the Kaduna State Geographic Information Service (KADGIS). I still have the forms with me for over 50 people who applied. We have not heard anything since,” he said.

Sani accused the company of acquiring the land through deceit, allegedly in connivance with the state government, without regard for the welfare of the affected communities.

However, the spokesperson for KADGIS, Helen Kafoi, confirmed that the agency is responsible for issuing and reallocating land on behalf of the Kaduna State Government.

When asked about the delay, Kafoi said many communities had been promised land, suggesting the government may have overlooked the case.

She noted that the agreement was reached under the administration of former governor Nasir El-Rufai, adding that the current governor, Sani Uba, might not be aware of the promise.

She advised the affected communities to formally write to the governor, copying the Director-General of KADGIS, as a reminder.

“They can do this in two ways,” she said. “First, they can select a few community members to meet the Director-General, who can then forward their concerns to the governor. Second, they can write a formal reminder, stating when the promise was made, listing the affected communities and the total number of people who applied for compensation.”

Company speaks

But the ANMRL’s head of Corporate Communication Department, Chetan Kumar, explained that the company adhered to all due processes in land acquisition, in accordance with statutory regulations and best international practices, including International Finance Corporation (IFC) standards.

He added that all required stakeholder engagements were conducted, and final agreed compensations were fully paid through cheques in presence of community stakeholders and government officials executed under the supervision of the KADGIS and Kaduna State Government.

“All the farmers were adequately compensated for structures, economic crops, farmlands as per government assessment report. In line with this strict compliance, all project-related approvals including Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) and permits such as Mining Lease (ML) were granted by both the State Government and relevant federal agencies. Copies of the relevant correspondence and proof of compensation payments are available for reference and have been submitted to the appropriate state agency.”

Meanwhile, Isuhu Babi, a community leader in Gopai who participated in the land agreement, said the land was collected on a lease basis, adding that the agreement was reached without a lawyer representing the community.

He said assurances that the company would provide social amenities influenced the community’s decision to accept the terms imposed on them.

“We believed the company would bring jobs for our youths, but that hope has turned into an illusion,” he said.

According to him, available jobs were mostly menial, daily-paid porter roles that offered little income or long-term value.

“These are not jobs that build skills. And when some of those employed are accused of theft, instead of reporting them to community leaders, their pictures are taken and displayed around the company premises to disgrace them,” he added.

But Chetan said as part of its local employment policy, priority is given to qualified community members whenever vacancies arise.

“To date, individuals from the host communities have been engaged across various departments, including Support and Operations Departments. Additionally, several community youths have been trained and employed to operate specialized Heavy Earth Moving Equipment. A detailed list of employees from the community can be provided in a separate document for reference. It is important to note that any complaints regarding community employment are likely to originate from individuals whose employment was terminated due to violations of the company’s strict anti-theft and alcohol and drug policies. The records of these incidents are available with us.”

Our company not emiting gas but…

Chethan, said the facility does not emit gaseous pollutants but the excess heat generated during operations is captured through Electrostatic Precipitators (ESP) and reutilized internally using its patented engineering technology.

He said in total, five ESP units and 16 bag filters are installed as part of the engineered dust and emissions control system and the capital investment cost of these installations exceeds N6.6bn.

“In line with our environmental stewardship commitments, air quality monitoring is conducted quarterly by an independent Federal Ministry of Environment (FME) and NESREA accredited laboratory. The resulting reports are being verified by relevant regulatory agencies during quarterly inspections, including the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and the Mines Environmental Compliance Department, Kaduna, to demonstrate continuous adherence to national air quality standards.”

He said the company is progressively developing a green belt plantation as part of our internal afforestation programme and in support of the broader national climate agenda.

He added that to ameliorate the substance that comes of its company, more than 20,000 indigenous tree saplings and 3,000 scientific trees have been planted.

“These interventions are fully documented and verifiable at the company’s facility. Officials from National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Kaduna witnessed our efforts on the 5th June 2025 on the occasion of World Environment Day.”

State government mum

Efforts to get the response of the state government, though the Commissioner for Information, Ahmed Maiyaki, was not successful as he failed to respond to several calls and messages sent to his phone.

This reporter first called him on December 7, which urged him to put his questions in writing, which was done. But he did not respond and another phone was made on December 8 which he did not pick.

However, on the 9th when the reporter called again, he apologised for getting back. He said it was due to his tight schedule as state executives are making budget defense at the state assembly.

He promised to call the local government chairman where the community is located to get the information. His failure to get back made the reporter put calls across to him but he failed to pick the calls with the last call being on December 22.

Also, the State’s Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Abubakar Buba, did not pick his and respond to text messages sent to him throughout the two weeks the reporter tried to reach out to him.

The firm

According to information on its website, the African Natural Resources and Mines Limited (ANRML), established by African Industries Group, operates a fully integrated iron ore mining and processing plant with a 5 million tonnes per capacity per annum.

The $600m plant began operation in 2022 and was adjudged, the first of its kind in Nigeria and is owned by the Gupta brothers; Raj and Alok Gupta, according to the website of African Industries Group.

Raj Gupta serves as Chairman of African Industries while his younger brother, Alok Gupta, is Managing Director.

Sitting on 500 hectares, ANRML was built to “mine the abundant iron ore available within its mines, which is then transformed into high grade Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) through the processes of beneficiation and pelletizing in state-of-the-art machinery. This DRI is used as a raw material for producing steel in Nigeria,” its website read.

It further stated that the plant is equipped with advanced technology, processes magnetite iron ore sourced from its mines.

“It also has a captive power plant based on environmentally friendly waste heat recovery technology catering to its in-house power needs. ANRML holds Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) certifications, adhering to international standards and IFC/World Bank guidelines. The overall project aims to boost socio-economic development, generating jobs and contributing to the nation’s growth. The Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) produced will replace ferrous scrap in steel production, enhancing efficiency and positioning Nigeria as a significant global crude steel producer.”

What to know about DRI plants

The use of DRI plants, according to the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), is used to produce iron ore that is less costly and environmentally friendly when compared to traditional furnace blast plants.

It stated that the process involves removal of oxygen from the iron oxide using coal or natural gas as reductants and dolomite as a desulphurizing agent.

While the DRI plant does not melt the ore but produces them in solid pellet, the product is mostly preferred in the iron industry due to its ability to produce high quality steel.

However, a paper written by Ratidzo Yvonne Nyakudya & Michael Ayomoh said the DRI process, which accounts for less than 10 percent of steel making plants in the world, produces emissions or pollutants into the air that can result in undesirable changes to the climate.

The paper said this degrades the environment as the emissions are produced during the DRI process because of the various reactions of carbon from coal thus producing a lot of carbon derived emissions.

It cited principal air emissions to include particulate matter (PM, or dust), Sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), lead and ozone.

It added that the process of employing coal as a reducing agent also produces a lot of CO2 and CO from the reactions between the carbon and iron oxide inside the kiln.

Uncompleted plant

Despite its claim that the company is adhering to international standards and IFC/World Bank guidelines that stipulates that companies would not release harmful pollutants to the environment, Weekend Trust gathered that ANRML is violating that standard because the plant is yet to be completed.

A source in the company who does not want his name disclosed due to the fear of losing his job said the company was supposed to implement some pollution control mechanism which it is yet to put in place.

“The company claims that we are in the project phase, thus the amenities and pollution control systems have not been implemented completely to have a proper dedusting system. That is why the pollution is like that. Right now, we still have rotary kilns number three and four under construction. So, the bag filters which are supposed to serve as a dust control are not there.”

When asked why the company is operating despite not completing all necessary infrastructures, the source said he can’t tell as he is not aware of the agreement the company reached with the federal government.

“This is the question the Standard Organisation of Nigeria, Ministry of Mines and Solid Minerals and other agencies need to answer. I don’t know what agreement they have reached for them to be operating.”

When contacted to enquire if the company had fulfilled all regulatory approval on its mechanical infrastructure, the Mining Inspectorate Officer in charge of the area, Engr. Henry Temidayo Bolarinwa, said he was new to the position, so can’t speak about the company.

“Except you want me to tell lies, I have not been to the company and can’t say anything about them. I just resumed this June owing to the retirement of my predecessor.”

Speaking with Weekend Trust, a mechanical engineer, Bashir Oyekan, said the gaseous pollutant can be treated to make it less harmful.

He compared the pollutant like the locomotive train which works on the influence of coal but was subsequently abandoned due to its hazard to the environment.

Though, he said there is a maximum amount of fumes companies can emit to the society, he said the law does not allow those that will cause harm to people and environment.

But Chetan in his response said the company remains in full compliance with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations, including those governing environmental requirements. Quarterly environmental monitoring is conducted by an independent, Federal Ministry of Environment & NESREA accredited third-party consultant.

He said the resulting reports consistently indicate that all parameters remain within permissible thresholds.

“In addition, periodic site inspections and audits are carried out by NESREA & Mines Environmental Compliance Department (MEC) Kaduna to verify ongoing compliance. In line with these regulatory processes, all applicable approvals and permits are duly granted and renewed by the authorities. Copies of up-to-date approvals and permits are available for reference.”

Scientific evidence confirms contamination

Despite the denial, Weekend Trust in a bid to identify the level of acidic substance and metal in the community, took samples of dry soil, wet soil from the stream, borehole water and raw rice for analysis at Tswan Laboratories Limited, Abuja, a certified scientific laboratory by the Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN), on December 11.

The result which was collected on December 22 shows that there are high concentrations of lead, arsenic and Particulate Matter in all the samples except for the borehole water which is safe for consumption.

Thus, analysis was conducted on the Potential of Hydrogen (pH), that checks the acidity level, Electric Conductivity, to predict soil fertility, Coliform, to check disease causing bacteria, Lead (Pb) and Arsenic (As), to check presence of heavy metals.

For instance, the result for dry soil, showed that the level of pH of 5.8, lower than the range of 6 to 7.5 approved by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. This means it is acidic and acidic soils can increase the mobility of heavy metals such as lead and arsenic.

Also, the Electrical Conductivity is 230 microsiemens per centimeter (µS/cm) which is low to moderate soluble salts. It also confirmed the presence of coliform bacteria, thus microbial contamination exists from animal or human waste, poor sanitation or exposure to contaminated water sources.

It also stated that lead concentration of 47.8 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) is well above typical background levels for soil and exceeds many international guideline values for agricultural and residential soils and the 12.9mg/kg arsenic concentration found is above recommended soil safety limits.

For the wet soil from the stream, the pH of 6.0 value shows the soil is slightly acidic while Electrical Conductivity of 362 µS/cm indicates a moderate concentration of dissolved salts, which is common in wet clay soils.

It also has a very high presence of coliform bacteria and shows a very high coliform count and the lead concentration of 56.1mg/kg is above recommended safety limits for agricultural and residential soils.

It also concluded that arsenic concentration level of 6.8mg/kg which is above acceptable soil guideline values.

For the rice, the pH of 6.3 value indicates that the water it contains is neither acidic nor alkaline and is safe for consumption and household use. The electrical conductivity of 240 µS/cm shows presence of dissolved substances from soil or contaminated water sources, thus, environmental exposure during cultivation or processing.

It added that the presence of coliform bacteria indicates poor hygiene, fecal contamination, or exposure to contaminated water, as such, increasing the risk of foodborne illnesses such as diarrhea, dysentery, and typhoid fever.

It stated that the level of lead, 0.66mg/kg, it contains is above international food safety limits of 0.2 mg/kg for cereals with arsenic concentration of 0.32mg/kg exceeding recommended safety thresholds for rice.

However, the analysis shows that the borehole is largely safe for consumption as the pH of 6.92 value indicates that the water is neither acidic nor alkaline and is safe for consumption and household use.

The Electrical Conductivity (470 µS/cm) indicates a moderate level of dissolved minerals in the water and well below the recommended limit and suggests the water is not saline or heavily mineralized.

While the absence of coliform bacteria shows that the water is not contaminated with fecal matter, hence no risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and dysentery

It emphasized that lead exposure at high levels can cause serious health problems, especially in children, but the detected level of 0.005mg/L is considered safe. Arsenic concentration of 0.003mg/L is also below the permissible limit of 0.01 mg/L, indicating no immediate health risk from arsenic exposure.

From this, it can be deduced that the community is facing a looming health disaster if they continue to be exposed to the chemicals.

How company violates environment – NESREA

When contacted on the matter, Assistant Director (Press) of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Nwamaka Ejiofor, said ANRML has been under its regulatory oversight and the facility was originally designed with reverse/return silos as a carbon soot control mechanism.

She, however, stated that this design resulted in high levels of emissions.

She said: “During routine compliance and monitoring exercises, NESREA observed these excessive emissions and consequently directed the facility to upgrade to more environmentally friendly technology. In response, the company installed Electrostatic Precipitators (ESP) and air bag filters, which led to a reduction in emission levels. However, subsequent monitoring revealed that the installed Air Bag Filters were of substandard quality and ineffective to totally abate the emissions.”

She said as an immediate corrective action, NESREA directed the company to reduce its production capacity by 50%, install upgraded air pollution control equipment within 10 weeks, intensify dust suppression measures, and submit its quarterly environmental monitoring reports.

She expressed the agency’s commitment on close monitoring to ensure full adherence to extant environmental regulations, adding that appropriate enforcement actions will be taken should violations persist.

“NESREA reiterates its commitment to protecting public health, preserving the environment, and ensuring that all industrial operators in Nigeria operate strictly within the confines of the law. In line with its mandate, the agency is implementing National Environmental Regulations covering various sectors of the economy, both in the brown and green environment accordingly. Routine compliance monitoring is carried out to ensure adherence, and facilities that persistently fail to abate identified infractions are sanctioned accordingly.”

When asked if the company has been fined or penalised for previous violations, Nwamaka did not respond.

Meanwhile, an environmental activist, Nnimmo Bassey said the pollution is clearly obnoxious and shouldn’t be permitted.

He said NESREA needs to penalise the company and order it shut down until they have “upgraded, clean up the pollution, carry out community-wide health audits, restore the environment and compensate the community people for harms suffered.”

But the regulator’s admission that the company’s emission is above the limit allowed is a violation of Section 11, Part 1 of the National Environmental (Base Metals, Iron and Steel Manufacturing/Recycling Industries) Regulations 2011, a subsidiary legislation under the NESREA Act, which provides that “Every facility, corporation or organisation shall have Pollution prevention and control measures as prescribed in Schedule VIII to these Regulations[…].

Similarly, Section 8 Part 2 of the National Environmental (Energy Sector) Regulations 2014, also a subsidiary legislation under the NESREA Act, which inter alia states that “A facility shall install anti-pollution equipment for the detoxification or treatment of effluent and emission so as to meet the prescribed effluent and emission standards.”

The regulations further provides that offences, when committed by a body corporate, shall on conviction, attract a fine not exceeding N1,000,000.00 and an additional fine of N50,000.00 for every day the offence subsists.

Government knows our plight

As the community continues to face uncertainty on their health and future, the head of Gopai village, Tanko Ishaku, said the situation would change if the government had taken actions after they reported their situation to them.

He said when the soot began three years ago, it was reported to the Kaduna State Government during the previous administration of Nasir El-Rufai, but their plea fell on deaf ears, since he was the one that brought the company.

He added that recently, Governor Uba Sani, came to launch a project a few kilometers from the community and a letter of complaints was given to one of his aides.

“This letter led to the government summoning us to the state capital, Kaduna; we went there and we got assurances that something will be done but still, we are yet to hear from them.”

Sani also corroborated that the government has the knowledge of what they were going through as officials working for the local government once visited the community to get samples of their saliva in conducting some tests.

“They brought some containers but they went back with few of the containers. Since then, they never came back”

He added that he collected over 40 containers for his household which consists of more than 50 persons, extended relatives.

He said the officials did not collect any from him.

A community divided over projects

Meanwhile, a handful of projects—such as boreholes and access roads constructed by the company in Gopai and Anguwar Sarki—have unsettled residents of Maraban Babu, who claim they received nothing despite giving up their land and suffering the same hardships.

The village head of Maraban Babu, Sabo, told Weekend Trust that the community was saddened when its letter to the company, requesting help to fix the only two blocks of its primary school after the roof was blown off, went unanswered.

“We never got any response a year later, which prompted us to write to the traditional leader in charge of the local government,” he said.

A copy of the letter, shown to this reporter, referenced projects executed by the company in neighbouring communities. It read in part: “Chief, sir, we are not jealous of Gujeni people with what the company is doing or has done to them. We are aware that African Mining Company has carried out some projects in Gujeni as follows: the company dug four boreholes and provided four generators; graded the road from Layapa to Gujeni A, about 5.5 kilometres; mounted electricity from Layapa to Gujeni A with a transformer; supported the secondary school in Gujeni. Beyond that, the company has given some Gujeni people appointments. But there is no single person or project being considered in the Babu community.”

The letter also questioned whether the alleged discrimination stemmed from the community being regarded as settlers, arguing that they legally acquired the land from Gujeni indigenes.

“Sa-Dantayi I, we want to categorically tell you that our settlement in Babu, we bought the land from the Gujeni people to build our houses and also for farming where the company is located, which Gujeni people know very well. From the company gate down to River Chakwama, the boundary between Gujeni and Chakwama village, is owned by the Babu community (along the Abuja–Kaduna Expressway),” the letter stated.

However, the village head of Gopai, Ishaku, said the projects cited were not provided as goodwill but as compensation for losses caused by the company’s activities.

“For the boreholes, the two constructed here and in Anguwar Sarki were to compensate for the blockage of the stream that flows through our villages. That stream was our only source of water before the company came, which is why they dug the boreholes,” he explained.

He also clarified that the secondary school was not originally built by the company. “The community contributed money to construct it because our children were no longer attending school. The building had reached an advanced stage before the company came in to complete it, to fulfil the agreement we signed with them that they would construct a school.”

Ishaku added that the community was surprised when the company showcased the project on its social media platforms and invited journalists to report the handover of classroom blocks.

He said that, like Maraban Babu, the villages currently have no electricity after cables on the transformer were stolen. “We also don’t have any clinic here to take care of our sicknesses,” he said.

According to him, the blockage of the stream has created further problems, as the company now controls its flow. He alleged that at times the water is mixed with chemicals, which has damaged their crops.

“We planted rice close to the area because it is swampy, but it turned black after harvesting. There is also a banana plantation there that no longer grows as big as it used to because it is starved of water,” he said.

Responding to the allegation of contaminating the stream in the community, Chetan said the Chakwama stream is located outside the company’s operational boundaries and its current condition is attributable to ongoing illegal mining activities occurring within the stream corridor.

“The company has undertaken several awareness and sensitization stakeholder engagements with community members of Babu and Gujeni in presence of Mines Environmental Compliance Officer from Kaduna to discourage these unlawful activities. Furthermore, host community leadership and the relevant regulatory agencies are aware of the situation. It is important to note that the current state of the stream is entirely unrelated to any aspect of the company’s operations, and this remains well-established and acknowledged by all stakeholders.”

He said the company has engaged in several projects that include Community Electrification Support Program –refurbishment of 500kva transformer and installation of new electric poles.

He said the company has provided several CSR activities that includes a scholarship programming that has been running since 2023 and annual Drug Donation & Medical Camp, Drug Donation and Medical Outreach Camp in Gujeni Community

He said signed copies of the current Community Development Agreements between the company and the host communities (Gujeni & Chakwama) are available with it for reference while Maraban-Babu falls under the Gujeni jurisdiction, and all CDA provisions apply accordingly.

Community living in hazard – Expert

Speaking with Weekend Trust, the Executive Director, Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), Philip Jakpor, said the community is already hazardous for habitation as soot is a cancer-causing powdery substance from carbon.

He said it is highly dangerous and results from incomplete combustion and local communities living near flare sites or sites where extractive activities and burning take place are exposed to soot pollution through inhalation.

“There are similar happenings in the southern part of the country like Port Harcourt and Warri. The locals must be tested to know their level of exposure to these dangerous particles and how long it has been happening.”

He added that farmlands in areas where there is soot pollution cannot do well because the soot coats the leaves and prevents photosynthesis.

“We must not forget that soot carries heavy metals that damage and make the soil toxic. Consuming crops from such pollution is even hazardous.”

He went on to state that no company has a right to pollute the environment as soot pollutes the air and violates federal and state regulations, primarily managed by NESREA and there are penalties and hefty fines and imprisonment for such actions.

“Under the Harmful Waste Act, discharging harmful waste can result in fines up to N1m and 5 years imprisonment, with extra fines for companies. Illegal burning of bush, waste, or combustible materials without a permit attract penalties.”

On whether the environment can be rehabilitated, he said the harmful practices must be stopped first of all and then rehabilitation processes can start. “Yes, it is possible.”

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