Modelling Risk-sharing and Mutual Benefits in Sand Extraction Industry: Unfolding Controlled Open Access Regime (COA) in Anong Community, Abi LGA, Cross River State, Nigeria
Abstract
The global demand for sand, driven by relentless urbanization and infrastructure development, has escalated into a multifaceted crisis, largely due to its management under an unregulated open-access paradigm. This study argues that the prevailing “Tragedy of the Commons” in sand mining necessitates a transformative governance approach. It proposes the Controlled Open Access (COA) regime as a novel, hybrid model designed to integrate structured control mechanisms from state, private, and common property frameworks. By fostering robust multi-stakeholder participation, implementing equitable benefit-sharing mechanisms, embedding adaptive management principles, and strengthening regulatory frameworks, COA offers a pathway to transcend the destructive dynamics of pure open access. This model aims to internalize the severe environmental, social, and economic externalities of sand extraction, promoting sustainable resource utilization, fostering shared responsibility, and ensuring mutual benefits for all stakeholders, thereby mitigating risks and securing the long-term viability of this critical resource.
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3968/13905
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