Kenny Folarin, Abuja
The United Nations Industrial Development Organizations (UNIDO) in collaboration with the Federal Government of Nigeria and Global Environment Facility on Thursday met to develop a proposal for Nigeria on how to eliminate mercury in Nigeria’s Artisanal and Small Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) sector.
Regional Director, UNIDO, Jean Bakole, represented by Environmental Expert, UNIDO, Oluyomi Banjo while speaking in Abuja at a Validation Workshop of Project Document for the Global Environment Facility (GEF) PlanetGold in Nigeria stated that
artisanal and small scale gold mining is responsible for 37% of the entropogenic emissions and releases of the mercury into the environment makes it the largest source of entropogenic source of mercury globally is a threat to health and safety of the country.
According to Bakole, over 90% of Nigeria’s mining sector is characterized by artisanal and small scale mining and because of the rudimentary ways of carrying out mining and mineral processing activities there are lots of indiscriminate use of chemicals and its exposure in an around mining sites and mining communities.
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Bakole explained that the GEF Planet Gold Project which will be piloted in four states which include Kebbi, Niger, Kaduna and Zamfara seeks to enhance formalization in the ASGM sector, enhance access to finance and financial inclusion and responsible supply chain, enhance uptake of mercury free technologies and improve knowledge sharing communication and local capacity building.
He also noted that the Minamata Convention Mercury is an international legal instrument which lead to reduce and eliminate entropogenic releases and mercury emissions into our environment.
Bakole affirm that the development of GEF Planet Gold project will further strengthen UNIDOs collaboration with Nigeria’s Mining Industrial and Environment Sectors.
Meanwhile, Bakole noted that if Nigeria is to achieve the 7% contribution from the mining and mineral sector to the share of the GDP by 2031, then the development has to be sustainable.
Reiterating UNIDOs commitment, Bakole said “For us at UNIDO, we will continue to support the country in ensuring that the environment is protected, lives are preserved and our mining industries are sustainably developed and run”.
Director, Department of Pollution Control and Environmental Health, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr. Charles Ikeah on his part stated that the advent of GEF Gold project is timely and it’s goal is in line with government’s priority to protect human lives and environment.
Ikeah added that the project will effectively implement the provisions of the Minamata Convention on mercury, and strategically position the mining sector for economic growth and eventually, sustainable development.
He further stressed that the validation workshop is crucial in providing a platform to finalize the project document before submission to GEF for final approval to commence the project.