An Assessment of Environmental Law Compliance by Small-Scale Mining Companies in Zamfara State

Small-scale and artisanal gold mining in Zamfara State, North West Nigeria, has generated severe environmental and public health consequences including lead poisoning, water contamination, and ecosystem destruction, yet legal compliance with environmental regulations including the Minerals and Mining Act, NESREA Act, and environmental impact assessment requirements has been negligible. This study assesses the legal framework for environmental compliance in the artisanal mining sector and the barriers to enforcement in Zamfara State. Fieldwork interviews were conducted with 30 mining operators, 10 NESREA officials, and 10 community representatives in Anka and Maru Local Government Areas. Regulatory document analysis and review of available enforcement records were also conducted. Results indicate that environmental impact assessment requirements are routinely bypassed because artisanal mining operations are below the regulatory threshold that triggers mandatory EIA. NESREA enforcement capacity in Zamfara State is severely limited by personnel shortages and logistics constraints. Compensation frameworks for lead poisoning victims are inadequate and rarely activated. The study concludes that the environmental law framework for artisanal mining in Zamfara requires dedicated sector-specific regulations, lower EIA thresholds, community environmental monitors, and a Zamfara State Mining Remediation Fund financed by minerals royalties. Recommendations include emergency legislative action to address lead contamination liability and community right-to-know provisions.

Keywords: environmental compliance, artisanal mining, Zamfara State, NESREA, lead poisoning