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ARTICLE · 31 AUGUST 2023

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Environmental Considerations Of Mining In Nigeria

Punuka Attorneys and Solicitors
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The challenges of operating in the Mining sector in Nigeria range from insecurity, poor data gathering, infrastructural deficiency etc. In addition to these challenges...

NigeriaEnergy and Natural Resources
Tobenna Nnamani
Tobenna Nnamani
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Introduction

The challenges of operating in the Mining sector in Nigeria range from insecurity, poor data gathering, infrastructural deficiency etc. In addition to these challenges, it is not unusual to read about disputes between companies and host communities based on environmental issues. For instance, in Chief Osaro Agbara & Ors v The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (Shell) & 2 Ors1, the trial Court awarded N15, 407, 777, 276 (about $32.7 million USD) in damages in respect of the pollution of the land occupied by them following the rupture of a pipeline maintained by Shell.

The Mining sector in Nigeria is principally regulated by the Mining Act 2007 (The Act) and we shall briefly discuss some of the environmental considerations a Mining Lease holder must be prepared to undertake in order to successfully operate in the Country.

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