The newly elected National President of the Nigerian Environmental Society (NES), ESV. Prof. Muhammad Bashar Nuhu, has called for strategic collaboration between the Society and the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN) to promote environmental reclamation, sustainable mining practices and responsible management of mining sites across the country.
Prof. Nuhu made the call on Monday 12th October 2026 while attending the Nigerian Mining Week in Abuja, in what marked his first official assignment since assuming office as the national president of the professional environmental body.
He said the NES was prepared to work closely with the Miners Association to strengthen environmental sustainability in the mining sector, particularly through land reclamation, ecological restoration and the development of practical frameworks for responsible mining operations.
According to him, the partnership would provide an opportunity for both organisations to combine their professional expertise and industry experience to address environmental challenges associated with mining activities.
Prof. Nuhu emphasised that the proposed collaboration would extend beyond reclamation to other areas of mutual interest, including environmental protection, sustainable resource utilisation and the promotion of mining practices that balance economic development with ecological preservation.
He noted that effective collaboration between environmental professionals and mining operators was essential to ensuring that mineral resources were exploited responsibly without compromising the environment, public health and the livelihoods of communities in mining areas.
The NES National president also underscored the importance of integrating environmental considerations into mining operations, from site development and mineral extraction to mine closure and post-mining rehabilitation.
He explained that proper reclamation and sustainability measures could help reduce land degradation, control erosion, protect water resources and restore disturbed landscapes, while supporting the long-term viability of mining communities.
The proposed partnership is expected to create opportunities for technical cooperation, professional guidance and the development of environmental management approaches that could improve the sustainability of mining operations in Nigeria.
In his response, the President of the Miners Association of Nigeria, Chief Dele Ayanleke, expressed the association’s readiness to leverage the experience and technical expertise of the Nigerian Environmental Society in advancing environmental sustainability within the mining industry.
Chief Ayanleke highlighted the potential contribution of the NES, particularly in developing an environmental sustainability framework for mining sites and providing professional guidance on responsible mining practices.
He indicated that cooperation between the two organisations could help strengthen the environmental management capacity of mining operators and promote more systematic approaches to addressing the ecological impacts of mineral extraction.
The proposed framework could provide a basis for improving environmental planning, reclamation procedures, site rehabilitation and sustainability practices across mining locations, subject to further engagement and agreement between the organisations.
The willingness expressed by both leaders signals a potential convergence of interests between environmental professionals and mining industry stakeholders at a time when responsible mineral development and environmental protection remain important considerations in Nigeria’s economic development agenda.
Mining activities can generate employment, support industrial growth and contribute to government revenue. However, poorly managed operations can also result in land degradation, vegetation loss, erosion, water contamination and other environmental challenges that may persist long after mining activities have ceased.
Effective reclamation and rehabilitation are therefore critical to ensuring that mined lands are restored to safe, stable and productive conditions, in line with applicable environmental standards and site-specific restoration objectives.
For the Nigerian Environmental Society, the proposed engagement represents an opportunity to apply environmental science, professional expertise and sustainability principles to a key productive sector of the economy. For the Miners Association, collaboration with environmental specialists could support the development and implementation of practical measures for improving environmental performance across mining sites.
The discussions at Nigerian Mining Week have opened a potential pathway for sustained engagement between the two organisations on mine-site reclamation, environmental management and sustainable development.
The success of the initiative will depend on translating the expressed commitment into a structured programme of cooperation, with clearly defined responsibilities, technical standards and mechanisms for monitoring environmental performance.
Such collaboration could contribute to a mining industry that supports economic growth while ensuring that environmental protection, ecological restoration and the welfare of host communities remain central to mineral resource development in Nigeria.
