Sustainable Mining Practices in Nigeria: A Case Study of Maiganga Coal Mining in Gombe State

The impact of mining activity on the environment has been well documented. Government efforts at achieving reclamation and rehabilitation of mine land and abandoned mines have been constrained by numerous challenges. Many studies have been carried out on coal mining activities in Maiganga area but little attention or none has been paid to the reclamation strategy of the coal mining company. This study appraises the sustainable practices in coal mining activities in Maiganga community of Akko Local Government Area (LGA) of Gombe state Nigeria. Data were collected through fieldwork and use of questionnaire, interview with key informants and focus group discussion. The findings of the study shows that (79%) of the approved mine land has not been mined, while 13% of the mine land is under active mining at the moment and 8% of the mine land has already been mined and is presently under reclamation and revegetation. The study findings revealed that 6,100 seedlings have been successfully planted on the reclaimed land. Mangifera indica constitute the highest (20%), Azadirachta indica and Tectona grandis had 16%, Anacardium occidentale 15%, Eucalyptus camaldulensis 13%, Acacia senegal 12% and Jatropher curcas 8%. The study shows that about 50,000 m2 has been reclaimed and planted with these economic trees, while another 40,000 m2 of the area has been reclaimed and will be planted with trees any moment. The present revegetation exercise of the Maiganga coal mine demonstrated that reclamation of mined pits and rehabilitation of the ecosystem is not an operation which should be considered only at, or just before mine closure but integrated into the mine operation through all phases, from exploration to construction, operation, and mine closure. This study recommends the need to sustain the present revegetation effort throughout the life cycle of coal mining activity in the area. The study also recommends the replication of this exercise in other mining areas within the country and future study on the effectiveness of the present revegetation exercise on the mined land.