Preserving The Environment Against Mining Hazards
— March 27, 2014
One of the negative effects of illegal mining is the
undeniable destruction of the environment as a result of non- or poor
remediation. As the rainy season begins again, Ruth Tene Natsa writes on
the need for miners, and stakeholders, to ensure that remediation is
carried out on the surfaces where mining activities occur out so as to
protect and preserve the environment
Remediation is the process of restoring both land and environment to its natural state after mining activities that have exposed the top soil through digging.
Non-remediation of mined environments portends high risks of flooding, exposure to dangerous minerals such as lead and even physical danger for both humans and animals.
Nigeria is a country blessed beyond measures with an abundance of solid minerals in virtually all the 774 local government areas.
The several coal reserves which it has in abundance and the recent discovery of gold in several states of the federation, among many others, make Nigeria a mining nation. Unfortunately with the negligent and lackadaisical attitude of the federal government to the development of the sector, while paying lip service to its reforms, illegal miners continue to have a field day in the mining sector. This is even as government claims it lacks the wherewithal to fully monitor the activities of these miners who continue to employ unsafe mining techniques.
In an exclusive interview with LEADERSHIP, the immediate past president of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS), Akinola George, said the non-remediation of mining environments is not only hazardous to the environment but dangerous to the life. Recounting a survey by the World Bank in the 36 states of the federation, including the FCT in 2011/2012, George recalled that “the survey revealed that of 1,218 abandoned mines, over 40 were very hazardous, 221 were moderately hazardous, while 957 were mildly hazardous.”
The geoscientists were worried that aside being dangerous to the environment, the animal deposits and various poisonous expositions posed cancer risks to the humans around. They, therefore, urged the government to not only remediate but to ensure the immediate reformations of such mines.
Although the federal government, through the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, have made efforts to organise the illegal miners into cooperatives, their activities continue to be regrettably dangerous to farmlands, the environment, animals and most importantly the residents of their host communities who are continually exposed to contaminated lands. Holes dug and left uncovered during mining could serve as traps for animals and unsuspecting humans who could fall into them without warning and heavy rains could wash off the soil, making it unsafe for farming activities.
Illegal mining and non-remediation has so many implications, both directly and indirectly, with the flooding experience witnessed in several parts of the nation in 2012. There is no doubt that if the land had been properly maintained and the drainages were in order, the calamity may have been averted.
The lead poisoning incidence in Zamfara State was another direct consequence of non-remediation. The lead was washed into other uncontaminated environments, thereby defiling them and exposing whole communities to the menace where over 400 children died and others were brain damaged.
Meanwhile, in a bid to ensure that mining and quarry sites operate within the constituted laws guiding the sector, the minister of mines and steel development, Mr Musa Mohammed Sada, has threatened to shut down quarrying operations in companies that fail to comply with acceptable standards.
While leading a delegation on inspection of quarrying sites in Abuja, he threatened to shut down activities in Hongyum Quarry limited and called for the revocation of license to Perfect Stone quarry in the FCT.
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Remediation is the process of restoring both land and environment to its natural state after mining activities that have exposed the top soil through digging.
Non-remediation of mined environments portends high risks of flooding, exposure to dangerous minerals such as lead and even physical danger for both humans and animals.
Nigeria is a country blessed beyond measures with an abundance of solid minerals in virtually all the 774 local government areas.
The several coal reserves which it has in abundance and the recent discovery of gold in several states of the federation, among many others, make Nigeria a mining nation. Unfortunately with the negligent and lackadaisical attitude of the federal government to the development of the sector, while paying lip service to its reforms, illegal miners continue to have a field day in the mining sector. This is even as government claims it lacks the wherewithal to fully monitor the activities of these miners who continue to employ unsafe mining techniques.
In an exclusive interview with LEADERSHIP, the immediate past president of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS), Akinola George, said the non-remediation of mining environments is not only hazardous to the environment but dangerous to the life. Recounting a survey by the World Bank in the 36 states of the federation, including the FCT in 2011/2012, George recalled that “the survey revealed that of 1,218 abandoned mines, over 40 were very hazardous, 221 were moderately hazardous, while 957 were mildly hazardous.”
The geoscientists were worried that aside being dangerous to the environment, the animal deposits and various poisonous expositions posed cancer risks to the humans around. They, therefore, urged the government to not only remediate but to ensure the immediate reformations of such mines.
Although the federal government, through the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, have made efforts to organise the illegal miners into cooperatives, their activities continue to be regrettably dangerous to farmlands, the environment, animals and most importantly the residents of their host communities who are continually exposed to contaminated lands. Holes dug and left uncovered during mining could serve as traps for animals and unsuspecting humans who could fall into them without warning and heavy rains could wash off the soil, making it unsafe for farming activities.
Illegal mining and non-remediation has so many implications, both directly and indirectly, with the flooding experience witnessed in several parts of the nation in 2012. There is no doubt that if the land had been properly maintained and the drainages were in order, the calamity may have been averted.
The lead poisoning incidence in Zamfara State was another direct consequence of non-remediation. The lead was washed into other uncontaminated environments, thereby defiling them and exposing whole communities to the menace where over 400 children died and others were brain damaged.
Meanwhile, in a bid to ensure that mining and quarry sites operate within the constituted laws guiding the sector, the minister of mines and steel development, Mr Musa Mohammed Sada, has threatened to shut down quarrying operations in companies that fail to comply with acceptable standards.
While leading a delegation on inspection of quarrying sites in Abuja, he threatened to shut down activities in Hongyum Quarry limited and called for the revocation of license to Perfect Stone quarry in the FCT.
Stay up to date, follow us on Twitter; @thundergist
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