The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, has assured stakeholders of the full implementation of mercury-free gold mining in line with the Minamata Convention.
Balarabe, who was represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mahmud Adam Kambari, disclosed this recently in Abuja while declaring open the inception workshop for the Global Environment Facility “GEF Gold” to enhance the formalization of the Mercury-Free Gold Nigeria Project.
The Minister commended the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development (MSMD), and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for funding the implementation of mercury-free gold mining in Nigeria.
He further noted that the project is expected to enhance the capacity of miners and provide support in accessing finance and markets for mercury-free gold in Nigeria.
Balarabe also called for a strong collaborative framework, buy-in, and active participation of all stakeholders — from government agencies at federal and sub-national levels to mining communities, civil society, financial institutions, and the private sector — as they are all paramount to the project’s success in developing a future where Nigeria’s gold resources are harnessed responsibly without compromising public health or the integrity of the environment.
Earlier in her opening remarks, the Director of Pollution Control & Environmental Health (PC&EH), Engr. Bahijjahtu Abubakar, said the workshop marks a significant milestone in the collective journey towards a more sustainable and environmentally sound artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector in Nigeria.
She also noted that the project offers a beacon of hope — a tangible pathway towards mitigating harmful impacts while unlocking the economic potential of gold mining in the country.
Representatives of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and Zamfara, Kebbi, Kaduna, and Niger States, in their various goodwill messages, assured their commitment to partnering in driving the transformation of gold mining in line with their mandate to promote inclusive and sustainable industrial development beyond the life of the project, with technical expertise to facilitate knowledge exchange and leverage international networks to attract resources and partnerships.
Further suggestions were made that the project should not focus on gold mining alone but extend to other mineral resources in Nigeria (non-metallic and metallic).
Mrs. Omotunde Adeola, the Director II of PC&EH, thanked all participants for honouring the invitation and wished everyone robust deliberations.