Assessment of Mine Safety Legislation Compliance in Small-Scale Mining Operations in Niger State, North Central Nigeria

Small-scale mining operations in Niger State, North Central Nigeria, operate within a complex regulatory environment in which compliance with mine safety legislation is widely inconsistent. This study assesses the level of compliance with the Minerals and Mining Regulations 2011 and associated occupational health and safety standards among small-scale operators in the Minna and Suleja districts. A structured regulatory audit instrument was developed and applied at 18 small-scale mining sites, covering areas including hazard identification, accident reporting, emergency preparedness, worker training documentation, and provision of personal protective equipment. The audit was complemented by semi-structured interviews with 15 mine supervisors and eight regulatory officers of the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development. Findings reveal a compliance rate of only 27 percent across all assessed categories, with the lowest scores recorded for emergency preparedness and accident reporting. Regulatory officers acknowledge enforcement capacity constraints arising from insufficient inspectorate staffing and inadequate operational budgets. The study proposes a simplified compliance self-assessment tool calibrated for small-scale operators, and recommends the integration of compliance incentives into the annual licence renewal process. Capacity-building support for the state inspectorate directorate and mandatory compliance insurance for licence holders are also recommended. This study provides practical guidance for improving safety governance in Nigeria's small-scale mining sector and offers a replicable compliance assessment methodology. Keywords: safety legislation, compliance, small-scale mining, Niger State, mine regulations.