The Federal Government on Friday introduced the GEF GOLD+ Nigeria Project to support the formalisation of artisanal mining and promote mercury-free gold production across the country. The initiative was launched in Abuja during the project’s inception workshop, where officials said Nigeria is taking firm steps to eliminate mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining.
The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Mahmud Adam Kambari, said Nigeria had earlier shown its commitment by developing a National Action Plan between 2017 and 2020 to end mercury use in ASGM. He described the new project as a transformative intervention that aligns with Nigeria’s obligations under the Minamata Convention on Mercury and supports the Tinubu administration’s national development priorities. He urged strong cooperation among stakeholders to ensure effective delivery.
According to him, the project uses a holistic and multi-sectoral approach that brings together formalisation, cleaner technologies, and access to traceable value chains. He stated, “This is a sustainable pathway for the development of Nigeria’s gold mining sector.” Lawal explained that the project, funded by the Global Environment Facility and implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, aims to reduce mercury emissions from ASGM while helping miners gain access to finance, markets, and mercury-free technologies.
He noted that mercury, commonly used in informal gold extraction, is a highly toxic neurotoxin that pollutes soil, water, and the food chain, leading to serious long-term health and environmental damage. The minister added that the current phase of the PlanetGOLD programme is being rolled out in eight countries, including Nigeria, after a previous phase in nine countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Lawal said the GEF GOLD+ Nigeria Project aligns with the government’s Eight-Point Agenda, especially poverty reduction, economic growth, job creation, and access to capital, and will also support the Sustainable Development Goals. The pilot states for the project are Niger, Kaduna, Zamfara, and Kebbi due to their high artisanal mining activity and urgent need for environmental reform.
He said he expects “robust discussions, a clear understanding of the project timelines, and the establishment of a strong collaborative framework,” stressing that support from government agencies, mining communities, civil society, the private sector, and financial institutions is crucial. He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to a cleaner, safer, and economically viable ASGM sector.
The Director of Pollution Control and Environmental Health at the ministry, Dr. Bahijjahtu Hadiza Abubakar, described the workshop as a major step toward a safer and more sustainable mining industry. She welcomed participants from federal ministries, UNIDO, the Project Steering Committee, pilot states, civil society organisations, ASGM communities, financial institutions, and the media. She said the GEF GOLD+ Nigeria Project provides “a beacon of hope” for addressing long-standing health and environmental risks caused by mercury use.
“For too long, mercury use in ASGM has posed significant threats to human health, ecosystems, and our national development aspirations. This project provides a tangible pathway for mitigating these impacts while unlocking economic opportunities in an environmentally responsible manner,” she said. Abubakar added that the workshop was designed as a collaborative space to build the framework needed for successful implementation and noted that progress will rely on active participation, useful contributions, and strong commitment from all stakeholders.
