The Federal Government has taken a decisive step toward eliminating dangerous mercury practices in Nigeria's gold mining sector with the official launch of the GEF GOLD+ Nigeria Project.
Transformative Initiative for Safer Mining
Unveiled on Friday, November 28, 2025, in Abuja, the project represents Nigeria's commitment to formalizing artisanal mining operations and promoting mercury-free gold production nationwide. During the project's inception workshop, Environment Minister Balarabe Abbas Lawal emphasized that this initiative aligns with Nigeria's obligations under the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
The minister, represented by Permanent Secretary Alhaji Mahmud Adam Kambari, described the project as a transformative intervention that supports the Tinubu administration's national development priorities. He stressed the need for strong stakeholder cooperation to ensure the project's success across Nigeria's mining communities.
Comprehensive Approach to Mining Reform
The GEF GOLD+ Nigeria Project adopts a holistic, multi-sectoral strategy that integrates formalization processes, cleaner technologies, and access to traceable value chains. According to Lawal, this approach provides a sustainable pathway for developing Nigeria's gold mining sector while protecting miners' health and the environment.
Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), the project aims to significantly reduce mercury emissions from artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM). It will support miners with access to finance, markets, and mercury-free technologies that eliminate the need for the toxic substance.
Lawal highlighted that mercury, widely used in informal gold extraction, is a highly toxic neurotoxin that contaminates soil, water, and the food chain, creating severe long-term health and environmental consequences for mining communities.
Pilot States and Implementation Strategy
The project will begin implementation in four states with high ASGM activity: Niger, Kaduna, Zamfara, and Kebbi. These locations were selected as pilot areas due to their urgent need for environmental reform and significant gold mining operations.
Minister Lawal expressed expectations for robust discussions during the workshop, clear understanding of project timelines, and establishment of a strong collaborative framework. He emphasized that buy-in from government agencies, mining communities, civil society, private sector, and financial institutions remains essential for the project's success.
The current phase of the PlanetGOLD programme is being rolled out in eight countries, including Nigeria, building on an earlier phase implemented in nine countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
In her remarks, Dr. Bahijjahtu Hadiza Abubakar, Director of Pollution Control and Environmental Health at the ministry, described the workshop as a major step toward creating a safer and more sustainable mining industry. She welcomed participants from various sectors and described the project as a beacon of hope for tackling longstanding health and environmental risks associated with mercury use.
Abubakar noted that for too long, mercury use in ASGM has posed significant threats to human health, ecosystems, and national development aspirations. The project provides a tangible pathway for mitigating these impacts while unlocking economic opportunities in an environmentally responsible manner.
Success will depend on active participation, insightful contributions, and unwavering commitment from all stakeholders, with their expertise and buy-in remaining absolutely essential for transforming Nigeria's artisanal gold mining sector.
