With the increasing awareness in natural resources extraction and the consequent impact on the environment, emerging trends of the challenges being faced in the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources are vital for discourse to prepare for the expectations and responsibilities of all stakeholders for sustainable development. Conflict, crisis, and indeed civil wars in many African countries were reported to have centered on “high value” mineral resources, e.g. oil and gas, diamonds, gold, silver, copper, cobalt, nickel, lithium etc.; thus reflecting the growing importance of integrating the environment and natural resources into community peace building for the sake of peace and security and sustainability.

In the Nigeria context, important commodities in this regard include principally the oil and gas resources, salt, tin, gemstones, and other solid minerals e.g., lead and zinc, barites, gypsum, gold, the exploration, development, and mining of which are very pertinent to this discourse because of the historical background related to the culture, occupation, and activities of communities in the environment.

This paper discusses issues of environments in the exploration and mining of solid minerals and petroleum resources and the bearing on conflicts and crisis with the suggestions for the way forward. The speech submits that all aspects of Environmental Social Governance (ESG) including climate change, pollution, violence, security, education, unemployment, corruption, malnutrition, and hunger should be addressed by stakeholders for peace, sustainability, and economic stability.