MINES AND QUARRIES (CONTROL OF BUILDINGS, ETC.) ACT
Act · Water
An Act controls the erection of buildings and structures near mines and quarries to protect public safety and prevent damage from mining operations. It targets property owners, mining companies, and state planning authorities. This ensures injury and land subsidence are avoided by enforcing safety exclusion zones.
MINES AND QUARRIES (CONTROL OF BUILDINGS, ETC.) ACT
What Is This Policy?
An Act controlling the erection of buildings and other structures near mines and quarries to protect public safety, prevent structural damage from mining operations, and regulate land use in mining areas.
Who Does It Target?
Property owners near mining and quarrying operations Mining and quarrying companies State physical planning authorities Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development
What Does It Aim to Achieve?
Prevent injury, property damage, and land subsidence caused by mining and quarrying operations by controlling building activities in safety exclusion zones around mine workings.
Key Features
Safety Zones: Prescribes minimum distances from mine workings within which building and excavation are restricted. Prior Consent: Construction near mines requires prior consent from the relevant authority. Mine Operator Obligations: Mine operators must notify the authority of workings near existing buildings. Compensation: Provides for compensation where mining operations damage existing structures.
Current Status
Rollout Stage: Active Coverage: Areas near mining and quarrying operations Beneficiaries: Communities near mines; public safety Funding: Federal Government
How to Access
Apply for building consent if construction is planned near a mine or quarry Mining companies must survey existing buildings near planned workings Report cracking or subsidence near mine areas to the Ministry Application method: Applications to Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.
Important Terms
Building without consent near a mine is illegal and may result in demolition Mine operators are liable for damage caused to buildings by their operations Safety zones may be extended by the Minister based on geological conditions
Official Resources
Website: https://www.minesandsteel.gov.ng Contact: Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development
Legal Framework
Enacted under the legislative powers of the National Assembly vested by Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution. Operates alongside the Minerals and Mining Act 2007, the Land Use Act 1978, the Environmental Impact Assessment Act 1992, and the Mines and Quarries Act, as part of Nigeria's mining safety and land regulation framework.