The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, says the establishment of an army battalion in Zurak, Plateau State and stronger enforcement against illegal mining can prevent mining-related tragedies.

Mr Alake said strengthening agencies such as the mining marshals and establishing a military presence in the area would help secure mining sites, deter illegal operators and prevent a recurrence of incidents such as the February gas poisoning.

He made the call on Friday in Abuja after receiving the report of the High-Level Investigation Committee on the Zurak mining gas poisoning incident in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The report was submitted to him by the co-chairman, Faruk Yabo.

About 37 people died and 25 others were hospitalised following exposure to toxic gases at an underground mining site in Kampani Zurak on February 18.

Following the incident, the federal government ordered the closure of areas covered by Mining Licence 11810, operated by Solid Unit Nigeria Ltd, and constituted a committee to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the tragedy.

The minister described enforcement as the most effective approach to tackling illegal mining, stressing that relevant agencies required greater operational capacity.

Mr Alake said the mining marshals had recovered more than 100 mining sites from illegal operators and apprehended scores of illegal operators, some of whom had been prosecuted or were undergoing prosecution.

The minister said strengthening the agency with more personnel, equipment, armaments and modern technology would improve its nationwide operations.

“With minimal inputs and requirements, the mining marshals have been able to achieve so much in so short a time. 

“Imagine if we were enabled to strengthen its capacity, have presence in almost every local government of the country,” he said.

Mr Alake said the proposed army battalion would complement the mining marshals, particularly because Zurak was remote and difficult to access.

He explained that the difficult terrain made it challenging for security operatives, ministry officials and inspectors to move in and out of the area to carry out their duties.

He added that while the mining marshals could clear illegal mining sites, they could not remain there permanently to prevent unauthorised operators from returning.

Mr Alake also called for stronger regulatory frameworks and enforcement of preventive policies to minimise the impact of mining accidents.

The minister said the Zurak incident was the first reported case of poisonous gas inhalation in Nigeria’s mining sector, noting that the victims were illegal operators.

He said the incident highlighted the dangers associated with illegal mining, particularly in remote locations where government officials faced difficulties monitoring operations and enforcing regulations.

He explained that illegal mining had previously been carried out with impunity because there was no clear pathway for addressing the problem and enforcing existing regulations.

The minister also stressed the need to make contingency arrangements to reduce casualties whenever accidents occurred.

Mr Alake commended the committee for doing a thorough job.

He promised that the ministry would submit the recommendations to higher authorities for consideration and implementation.

Earlier, while presenting the committee’s report, Mr Yabo said the panel established that the victims died in an abandoned underground mining adit where carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulphide had accumulated because of inadequate ventilation.

He said the abandoned workings dated back to the German and British colonial mining eras and had continued to attract unauthorised persons searching for minerals.

“These old workings with waste dump estimated at more than 50 million tonnes were never properly closed down during the colonial era and they continued to attract unauthorised persons in search of minerals,” Mr Yabo said.

He said the victims were not employees of Solid Unit Nigeria Ltd but were among persons generally described as illegal miners who entered the abandoned workings.

The chairman said findings showed that the company maintained qualified technical personnel, paid its annual service fees, held a valid mineral title extending to November 2043 and complied with regulations governing the use of explosives.

However, despite the findings on regulatory compliance, the chairman said the committee recommended that the company should take responsibility for securing the affected abandoned mining sites within its general concession area.

He said: “Solid Unit Nigeria Limited must fence and secure the affected sites in spite that this is not within their own workings. However, we believe being in their general area, they should take responsibility,” he said.

The committee, he said, recommended stronger control of mining lease areas, improved security at abandoned sites, community sensitisation and skills acquisition programmes for residents.

The committee also urged the ministry to improve the resources available to regulatory agencies and intensify the nationwide audit and securing of abandoned and legacy mine sites, among other recommendations. 

(NAN)