Nigeria has taken a major step toward cleaner, safer, and more sustainable gold mining with the inauguration of the Project Steering Committee (PSC) for the GEF-GOLD+ Initiative — a collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, the Basel Convention Coordinating Centre for Africa, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
The project, titled “Enhancing Formalization of Mercury-Free Gold in Nigeria,” aims to eliminate mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM), promote formalization, improve access to finance, and advance the adoption of mercury-free technologies.
Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja, Mrs. Bahidja Abubakar, representing the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the Minamata Convention on Mercury and highlighted the country’s ongoing efforts through its National Action Plan.
“The GEF-GOLD+ Project represents a major step toward eliminating mercury use in artisanal and small-scale mining,” she said. “It seeks to protect public health, strengthen environmental safeguards, and promote sustainable livelihoods.”
Abubakar underscored the dangers of mercury pollution, noting that small-scale mining accounts for about 37 percent of global mercury emissions. She added that the newly inaugurated committee will guide and monitor implementation to ensure effective coordination among stakeholders.
UNIDO Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Philbert Johnson, pledged the organization’s continued collaboration with Nigeria to implement the project successfully.
“UNIDO is proud to partner with the Nigerian government in advancing mercury-free gold mining,” Johnson stated. “Through innovation, cleaner technology, and better financial access, we can protect human health, preserve ecosystems, and foster inclusive economic growth.”
He emphasized that the initiative aligns with UNIDO’s Country Partnership Programme with Nigeria (2024–2028) and contributes to global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 9, 12, and 13 — focusing on industry, responsible consumption, and climate action.
Mrs. Omotunde Adeola, speaking on behalf of the Director of Pollution Control and Environmental Health, described the PSC inauguration as a “critical milestone” in Nigeria’s quest to formalize and modernize its gold mining sector. She stressed that the project’s benefits would extend beyond its pilot states — Niger, Kaduna, Zamfara, and Kebbi — to advance the nation’s broader sustainability agenda.
“The success of this initiative will set the pace for an environmentally responsible and economically viable gold mining industry across Nigeria,” she said.
Project coordinator Ahmed Bah Ibrahim explained that the initiative will help Nigeria fulfill its obligations under the Minamata Convention by reducing mercury emissions, strengthening regulation, and promoting traceable gold supply chains.
The five-year project, expected to support cleaner production and responsible mining, is designed to help Nigeria achieve a mercury-free artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector through collective action, innovation, and global partnership.
