By Martha Agas

The Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN) has called for stronger inter-agency collaboration to ensure strict compliance with Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) requirements, as mandated by law for mining companies before they begin operations.

The National President of the association, Mr Dele Ayankele, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

Ayankele emphasised the need for closer collaboration among relevant organisations to ensure that mining companies submit EIA reports as required by law.

“There should be close collaboration between the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and the Federal Ministry of Environment.

“The human and logistical capacities of the appropriate departments of both ministries must be strengthened to monitor compliance, assess performance, and make periodic recommendations for remediation and sanctions,” he said.

NAN recalls that Mrs Janet Adeyemi, National President of Women Miners in Nigeria (WMIN), had also called for strict compliance with EIA requirements, noting that enforcement has always been a challenge.

Adeyemi urged the government to ensure strict enforcement and impose heavy sanctions on companies that violate the law.

She added that companies should also be required to provide an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) report, which covers broader sustainability factors alongside the EIA report.

NAN also recalls that the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, recently announced a surge in revenue from the sector, from ₦6 billion in 2023 to ₦38 billion in 2024.

In the first quarter of 2025 alone, Alake said, the sector generated licencing fees totalling ₦6.95 billion.

He attributed the significant increase to an aggressive licencing drive, higher costs, and stricter compliance checks. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Gabriel Yough