Kwara State residents struggle to reach lawmakers over illegal lithium mining

Residents of Bani in the Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria, have faced the consequences of illegal lithium mining for over three years. Community members report that these operations have destroyed farmlands, disrupted local livelihoods, and increased the threat of armed violence in the area.

In addition to the environmental and security crises, residents have faced significant difficulties contacting their elected representatives to seek government intervention. Efforts to reach Ahmed Saidu Baba, the representative for their constituency in the Kwara State House of Assembly, have reportedly failed. Residents noted that official digital channels, including a listed email address on the Assembly’s portal, were non-functional, and petitions submitted to his constituency office have not yielded a response.