Mine Closure and Land Rehabilitation: A Forgotten Chapter in Sustainability
When conversations on sustainable mining arise, they often focus on responsible extraction, environmental safeguards, and community relations during active operations. Rarely, however, do they touch the crucial, final chapter of mining: “mine closure and land rehabilitation”, a chapter that determines whether the land will become a legacy of prosperity or a scar of neglect.
WHY IT MATTERS
For decades, mining in Nigeria and indeed in much of Africa, such as the Republic of Congo, South Africa, Ghana, etc, has been driven by the excitement of discovery and profit. Unfortunately, once minerals are depleted, many companies pack up, leaving behind degraded landscapes, toxic tailings, and polluted water bodies. Communities are left to deal with the aftermath: infertile soils, unsafe pits, and lost livelihoods. The abandoned tin mines in Jos, Plateau remain a stark reminder of the dangers of ignoring post-mining land use; many have turned into deadly water ponds or barren wastelands, posing environmental and public health risks [1].
In contrast, modern sustainable mining emphasizes not only “how we mine” but “what we leave behind”. Mine closure and land rehabilitation ensure that post-mining landscapes are safe, ecologically functional, and, where possible, economically useful.
Deforestation: A Critical Threat to Sustainable Water Resources
Nigeria, a nation rich in biodiversity, is facing the challenge of water scarcity. A significant, yet often underestimated, contributor to this is deforestation.
Forest ecosystems are integral in sustaining water resources by protecting river catchments, maintaining rainfall patterns, and filtering water naturally. (10) Forests significantly enhance soil moisture retention, minimizing surface runoff, storing considerable volumes of water within their canopy, and facilitating the gradual infiltration and percolation of water into the subsurface (3).
The continuous degradation and clearing of forest reserves in the country disrupts its natural hydrological processes, jeopardizing the sustainability of freshwater resources for millions (8).
Decarbonizing Nigeria’s Mining Sector: Strategies for Achieving Net-Zero Emissions
Mining has historically served as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s economic development, with notable resource extraction activities ranging from Tin in Jos and Gold in Zamfara to Lithium in Nasarawa. The country’s substantial endowment of mineral resources presents significant economic opportunities; however, these benefits are accompanied by critical environmental challenges. The mining sector contributes considerably to greenhouse gas emissions, primarily through the combustion of fossil fuels, deforestation, and unsustainable operational practices.
The Environmental Cost Of Illegal And Unregulated Granite Quarrying In Nigeria
KEY TAKEAWAYS Illegal Granite Quarrying Is Environmentally Devastating: Unauthorized quarrying is responsible for widespread deforestation, air and water pollution, and irreversible land degradation across several Nigerian states. Health and Safety Risks Are Alarming: Unregulated granite extraction releases harmful dust (PM10), contributing to respiratory illnesses like asthma and sinusitis among nearby residents and quarry workers. Communities and Ecosystems Are Under Threat: Case studies from Abeokuta, Abuja, Edo, and Ebonyi reveal how quarrying disrupts ecosystems, reduces water
Critical Minerals and the New Economic Frontier: A Path Toward Economic Growth and Sustainability in Nigeria
Key Takeaways Critical Minerals: Drivers of the New Global Economy Critical minerals are the fundamental components behind electric vehicles (EVs), solar panels, wind turbines, and other advanced electronics. With the global push for clean energy and innovation, the demand for these resources has skyrocketed. The Global Race Is On, Can Nigeria catch up? Countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chile and Indonesia are already dominating the critical minerals market. Although Nigeria possesses significant