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 bio-
  accumulates 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.    mercury in products,
     ii.   mercury waste management,
     iii.  mercury in artisanal and small scale gold mining 
     iv.   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.