Transcript ANGLOPHONE WEST AFRICA WORKSHOP ON MERCURY IN ASGM, LAGOS NIGERIA. 8 – 10 JUNE 2011 NATIONAL SITUATION – NIGERIA BY ABIOLA IFUEKO OLANIPEKUN FEDERAL MINISTRY OF.

ANGLOPHONE WEST AFRICA WORKSHOP ON
MERCURY IN ASGM, LAGOS NIGERIA.
8 – 10 JUNE 2011
NATIONAL SITUATION – NIGERIA
BY
ABIOLA IFUEKO OLANIPEKUN
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, ABUJA
INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND
• Nigeria is blessed with bountiful solid mineral resources,
one of which is gold.
• Mining of this precious global commodity is mostly
conducted by artisanal and small –scale miners, using
rudimentary techniques .
• Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining provides an
important source of income for miners in Nigeria,
particularly in rural communities but their activities
pollute the environment with mercury and pose risk to
human health and the environment
INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND – CONTD.
• Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in Nigeria
and other developing countries is the largest remaining
intentional use of mercury in the world.
• In contrast to other industrial uses, all of the mercury
use in ASGM is released directly into the environment.
• Once deposited, the mercury form is changed by
microbial metabolism to methyl mercury, which bioaccumulates up the food chain, especially in the aquatic
food chain (fish &marine mammals) and is the primary
source of mercury in food.
Mercury exposure and impacts
• Mercury exposure has serious effects on man:
-
it affects foetal neurological development,
linked to lowered fertility,
brain and nerve damage and
heart disease in adult who have high levels of
mercury in their blood.
INITIATIVES AND EFFORTS
• Nigeria joined the United Nations Environment
Programme Global Mercury Partnership subsequent to
its establishment in 2008 in four areas:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
mercury in products,
mercury waste management,
mercury in artisanal and small scale gold mining
mercury releases from coal/carbon combustion.
The aim of joining the global partnership is to network
with experts for information sharing, risk communication,
assessment and related activities.
INITIATIVES AND EFFORTS
• Nigeria then established a national expert working
group on mercury to advice Government on the key
areas of focus and develop appropriate project
proposals and strategies to address the adverse effects
and risk of mercury exposure to the Nigerian populace.
• Nigeria is also actively participating and contributing to
the ongoing global negotiations towards developing a
legally binding instruemnt on mercury, as the Vice
President for Africa and Bureau member on the
intergovernmental negotiating committee.
CONTAMINATION ISSUES
• In March 2010, excess childhood death and illness
occurring primarily amongst children under five in
Zamfara State, Nigeria, was reported by Médecins Sans
Frontières (MSF/Doctors Without Borders) to the state
health authorities.
• Investigations led by the US Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with Federal and
Zamfara State authorities, MSF, Blacksmith Institute
and the World Health Organization (WHO), revealed
that the outbreak was caused by acute lead poisoning
associated with artisanal gold ore processing.
CONTAMINATION ISSUES
• The source of this unfortunate incidence was
massive environmental contamination from the
informal processing of lead-rich ore to extract gold.
• Further information on the scale of impacts,
impacted habitat to be provided during the Zamfara
experience lunch event tomorrow.
CHALLENGES AND WAY FORWARD
• The need for accurate database on mercury uses,
releases and exposure pathway within the ASGM
sector
• Development of policy and regulatory reforms
including risk management plan and adaptation of
environmentally-friendly methods to reduce mercury
releases and exposure.
CHALLENGES AND WAY FORWARD
• The unfortunate event within the sector which had
resulted in deaths and gross contamination also
points to the urgency for concerted action with the
ASGM Sector
• Need to undertake a comprehensive national
assessment on environmental contamination and
health impacts from ASGM
CHALLENGES AND WAY FORWARD
• Create awareness and disseminate information and
educative materials related to the danger of mercury
use among miners and the mining communities;
• Promote sustainability initiatives to protect socioeconomic, environmental, and health potentials for
current and future generations.
CONCLUSION
• The need for continued collaborative partnership with
relevant Government organizations for an integrated
approach to ensure the sustainable development of the
artisanal and small-scale gold mining in Nigeria
• The need for introduction and adoption of cost effective
and environment friendly technologies, aimed at
significant reduction/elimination of mercury’s use and
pollution of the Nigerian and global environment with
mercury .