Nigeria has launched the GEF GOLD+ Nigeria Project, a national effort designed to formalise artisanal mining and promote mercury-free gold production across the country. The government said the initiative marks a major step toward eliminating mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining, a practice that has long posed environmental and health risks.
At the project’s inception workshop in Abuja, the Minister of Environment said Nigeria had earlier demonstrated its commitment by developing a National Action Plan between 2017 and 2020 to phase out mercury use in the sector. Represented by the Permanent Secretary, he described the new programme as a transformative intervention that aligns with Nigeria’s obligations under the Minamata Convention on Mercury and supports the Tinubu administration’s development goals.
He encouraged strong collaboration among stakeholders, explaining that the project integrates formalisation, cleaner technologies, and access to traceable value chains. According to him, this approach provides a sustainable pathway for strengthening Nigeria’s gold mining sector and moving it toward safer and more profitable practices.
The initiative is funded by the Global Environment Facility and implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation. It seeks to cut mercury emissions from artisanal mining while helping miners access finance, markets, and modern, mercury-free technologies. Mercury, widely used in informal gold extraction, is a dangerous neurotoxin that contaminates soil, water, and the food chain, leading to long-term health and environmental damage.
The current phase of the PlanetGOLD programme is being implemented in eight countries, including Nigeria, following its earlier rollout across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The minister said the GEF GOLD+ Nigeria Project aligns with the government’s Eight-Point Agenda by supporting poverty reduction, economic growth, job creation, and access to capital, all of which are critical for mining communities and small-scale operators.
Pilot activities will begin in Niger, Kaduna, Zamfara, and Kebbi states, which were selected due to high artisanal mining activity and the urgent need for environmental reform. The minister said he expects detailed discussions, clear timelines, and a strong collaborative framework that includes the participation of government agencies, mining communities, civil society, private sector players, and financial institutions.
He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to building a cleaner, safer, and economically viable artisanal mining sector that protects people and the environment while expanding economic opportunities.
The Director of Pollution Control and Environmental Health described the workshop as an important step toward a safer mining industry. She welcomed participants from federal ministries, UNIDO, pilot states, civil society organisations, artisanal mining communities, financial institutions, and the media, describing the project as a beacon of hope for addressing longstanding health and environmental risks.
She said mercury use in artisanal mining has threatened human health, ecosystems, and national development aspirations for too long. The new project, she added, offers a practical pathway to reduce these impacts while opening economic opportunities in responsible and sustainable ways. She emphasised that the success of the initiative will depend on active participation, informed contributions, and strong commitment from all stakeholders whose expertise remains essential to its implementation.
