NES, Miners Association Seek Partnership on Mine-site Reclamation, Sustainability

The Nigerian Environmental Society (NES) has called for strategic collaboration with the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN) to promote mine-site reclamation, sustainable mining practices and responsible environmental management across the country.

The newly elected National President of the NES, ESV. Prof. Muhammad Bashar Nuhu, made the call on Monday, while attending Nigerian Mining Week in Abuja.

The event marked his first official assignment since assuming office as president of the professional environmental body.

Nuhu said the NES was prepared to work with MAN to strengthen environmental sustainability in the mining sector, particularly through land reclamation, ecological restoration and the development of practical frameworks for responsible mining operations.

According to him, the proposed partnership would enable both organisations to combine professional expertise and industry experience in addressing the environmental challenges associated with mining activities.

He said the collaboration would extend beyond reclamation to other areas of mutual interest, including environmental protection, sustainable resource utilisation and the promotion of mining practices that balance economic development with ecological preservation.

Prof. Nuhu stressed that effective cooperation between environmental professionals and mining operators was essential to ensuring that mineral resources were exploited responsibly without compromising the environment, public health or the livelihoods of communities in mining areas.

The NES president also underscored the importance of integrating environmental considerations into every stage of mining operations, from site development and mineral extraction to mine closure and post-mining rehabilitation.

He explained that proper reclamation and sustainability measures could reduce land degradation, control erosion, protect water resources and restore disturbed landscapes while supporting the long-term viability of mining communities.

The proposed partnership is expected to create opportunities for technical cooperation, professional guidance and the development of environmental management approaches capable of improving the sustainability of mining operations in Nigeria.

Responding, the President of the Miners Association of Nigeria, Chief Dele Ayanleke, expressed the association’s readiness to draw on the experience and technical expertise of the NES to advance environmental sustainability within the mining industry.

Ayanleke highlighted the potential contribution of the environmental body, particularly in developing an environmental sustainability framework for mining sites and providing professional guidance on responsible mining practices.

He said cooperation between the two organisations could strengthen the environmental management capacity of mining operators and promote more systematic approaches to addressing the ecological impacts of mineral extraction.

The proposed framework could provide a basis for improving environmental planning, reclamation procedures, site rehabilitation and sustainability practices across mining locations, subject to further engagement and agreement between the organisations.

The willingness expressed by both leaders signals a potential convergence of interests between environmental professionals and mining industry stakeholders at a time when responsible mineral development and environmental protection remain important to Nigeria’s economic development agenda.

Mining activities can generate employment, support industrial growth and contribute to government revenue. However, poorly managed operations can also cause land degradation, vegetation loss, erosion, water contamination and other environmental problems that may persist long after mining has ended.

Effective reclamation and rehabilitation are therefore critical to restoring mined lands to safe, stable and productive conditions in line with applicable environmental standards and site-specific restoration objectives.

For the Nigerian Environmental Society, the proposed engagement represents an opportunity to apply environmental science, professional expertise and sustainability principles to a key productive sector of the economy.

For the Miners Association, collaboration with environmental specialists could support the development and implementation of practical measures to improve environmental performance across mining sites.

The discussions at Nigerian Mining Week have opened a potential pathway for sustained engagement between the two organisations on mine-site reclamation, environmental management and sustainable development.

The success of the initiative will depend on translating the expressed commitment into a structured programme of cooperation with clearly defined responsibilities, technical standards and mechanisms for monitoring environmental performance.

Such collaboration could contribute to a mining industry that supports economic growth while ensuring that environmental protection, ecological restoration and the welfare of host communities remain central to mineral resource development in Nigeria