In Nigeria, up to now mining activities have systematically escaped environmental control. In 1989, the Government of Nigeria issue the document "national policy on the environment", which was revised in 1999 in response to the advances in knowledge and the need of integrating development issues concerning all sectors of the economy. The new environmental policy goals followed the sustained development principles of conserving and using natural resources for the benefit of present and future generations, and ensure an adequate environmental quality for good health and well being of the population. Recognizing the sectoral potential to cause serious environmental degradation, strategies regarding the implementation of policy directives in mining development included mandatory preventive environmental impact assessment (EIA), minimization of environmental damages and risks, prescription of regulation and standards specific for mining wastes, and promotion of legal small-scale mining activities. None of them has yet been fully put into practice. Although the EIA decree has been in force since 1992, only a year ago a mining project has prepared an EIA study and applied for an environmental certificate. Development of environmental regulations, mining effluent and waste management standards have just been included as an activity of the SMMR Project, following the provisions of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Law recently approved (February 2007).