The Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) has called for the full implementation of regulations governing the importation and handling of explosives in the mining sector.

NMGS president Akinade Olatunji made the call in an interview on Wednesday in Abuja.

The call was in reaction to the Ibadan explosion on January 16, which was reportedly caused by the storage of explosive materials by illegal miners.

No fewer than five people were reported killed, 77 injured, and 58 buildings destroyed.

Mr Olatunji said the regulations had specifications for various stakeholders, explaining that the Ibadan incident would have been averted if the regulations had been followed.

“These regulations have roles for various stakeholders, including the Mines Inspectorate Department of the Ministry of Solid Mineral Development, the State Security Service and the anti-bomb squad of the Nigeria Police Force.

“So the only way to prevent re-occurrence of such is the full implementation of the regulations governing the importation and handling of explosives in the mining sector,” he said.

According to him, defaulters of mining regulations should be sanctioned to check the activities of illegal miners and improper storage of explosives, adding that this will serve as a deterrent to others.

“Where there is no punishment for infractions and people are treated with kid gloves, illegality will always abound.

“If those found culpable in illegal mining are arrested, prosecuted successfully and jailed, others will run away from such illegality. Impunity and illegality thrive where there is no respect for law and order,” he said.

He said that Nigeria was blessed with huge potential in the mining industry and urged the government to engage professionals in growing the sector.

“The sector is knowledge-driven, and we have sufficiently trained professionals who have requisite knowledge and experience that can drive the sector to the desirable level if allowed by those in authority.

“There are experienced geologists and mining engineers in Nigeria that can help to transform the sector if allowed to do their jobs and given opportunities to drive the sectoral reforms needed for the sector to blossom,” he said.

(NAN)