Did you hear about the commotion at Cross River national park? So, We the People and Devcon, two non-governmental organisations (NGOs), are not happy about the miners who have been sneaking into the national park in Cross River state. Ken Henshaw and Martin Egot, the reps of the NGOs in Calabar, the state capital, are really worked up about this. They’re saying that these miners from two mining companies are breaking the law by doing their thing in the park. Apparently, it’s against the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act of 2007. The NGOs are worried that all this mining business is going to mess up the ecosystem, wreck conservation efforts, and put the forest at risk of wildlife hunting and logging. They’re not too pleased with the federal ministry of mines and steel development for giving the green light to these companies. They want the mining licences taken away ASAP. They’re also calling for the miners to pack up and leave the sites, and for security agencies to step in and make sure they do. The NGOs are pushing for a review of the mining regulations to make sure there’s no confusion about where mining can and can’t happen. They’re also saying that the local communities around the park need to be involved in looking after the place. They reckon it’s important for the government to give the ministry the power to enforce the rules and keep the park safe from harm. Let’s hope the government listens and takes action to protect the park. This article is brought to you in partnership with Report for the World, a global service program that supports local public interest journalism.