NAN-AE-6
Mercury
By Vivian Emoni
Abuja, July 19, 2017 (NAN) The Federal Government has assured of its commitment to the effective implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
Alhaji Ibrahim Jibril, the Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Environment, said this at a workshop in Abuja on Wednesday.
The minister, who was represented by Dr Shehu Ahmed, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, was speaking on the Development of a National Action Plan on Mercury use in the Nigerian Artisanal and Small Scale Gold Mining Sector.
Cue in audio (Ahmed)
“Let me assure you that Nigeria is highly committed through the Ministry of Environment and other sister ministries towards the implementation of Minamata Convention on Mercury.
“Nigeria after signing the Minamata Convention on Mercury on Oct. 10, 2013 commenced activities towards management of mercury in our environment.
“As you are aware Nigeria through the Federal Ministry, had just concluded the implementation of the Global Environment Facility, from the project titled, Minimata Convention Initial Assessment in Nigeria.
“The project was implemented in collaboration with United Nations Industrialisation Development Organisation (UNIDO) and United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
“The objective of the project is to assist Nigeria in completing pre-ratification activities under the Minimata convention to enable policy and strategic decision making.
“Secondary, to privitise areas for official invention interventions on mercury related issues and finally to facilitate the early implementation of the convention in Nigeria.’’
Cue out audio
The minister of state said that the ministry in collaboration with UNIDO and other stakeholders inaugurated National Steering Committee on National Action Plan on Mercury use in Nigerian Artisanal and Small Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) Sector.
He said that the steering committee was inaugurated on July 18, to provide guidance and technical support for effective implementation of the national project development of ASGM sector’s activities.
He noted that the government signed the convention which was a Multilateral Environmental Agreement (MEA) to curtail the menace of mercury in the environment and human health.
According to him, the aim is to address the adverse effects of mercury and to control the emission and releases of mercury elements that may occur as a result of human activities.
He said the exposure of mercury to the environment was injurious to human health due to of its toxicity.
He said that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the ratification of the convention in April.
Jibril noted that the Federal Ministry of Justice was preparing the instrument of the ratification for President Muhammadu Buhari`s assent, while the convention would become effective on Aug. 16.
He said that the outcome of the project was validated by stakeholders on June 22 and would be officially presented to the Federal Government, UNIDO and UNITAR on July 20.
Also speaking, Mr Chales Ikeah, the Director, Department of Pollution Control and Environmental Health, said that the government was aware of the effects of mercury and would, therefore, ensure that a coordinated and mainstreamed mechanism was established to control its use.
Ikeah said added that when established, the mechanism would address the immediate and long-term concerns to protect humans and the environment from the effects of the liquid metal.
“It is our belief that this project will further enhance Nigeria`s efforts at addressing mercury pollution issues and strengthening the artisanal and small scale gold mining sector,’’ he said. (NAN)
VOE/YEE
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Edited by Emmanuel Yashim