According to Minister of Solid Mineral Development Dele Alake, Nigerian mine workers will be covered by an insurance program enforced by the federal government. After a significant downpour on June 3, a mining site at the Galadima Kogo hamlet under Shiroro LGA in Niger State collapsed, trapping around twenty people.
Seven workers were freed, according to Segun Tomori, Dele Alake’s special assistant for public relations, while roughly 14 individuals remained imprisoned.The rescue efforts for the miners who are still trapped in the mining hole were impeded by large boulders and a shortage of equipment, as reported by the Niger police state command on Thursday.
At a Friday condolence visit with Niger’s governor, Umar Bago, Alake stated that the insurance plans will improve safety protocols and provide relief for miners in case of accidents
“I bring the condolences and sympathies of Mr. President to the families of victims, those injured, the entire community, and the government and people of Niger state on the mine pit collapse. It is unfortunate and avoidable,” the statement reads.
“Though we learned the disaster was due to heavy downpours, we are committed to intensifying the monitoring of mining operations to ensure conformity to environmental standards.”
The minister said the government will no longer encourage irresponsible mining operations that pose threats to the environment and communities. “We must also put in place contingency plans to mitigate the impact of natural disasters on mining sites. For instance, making the installation of support pillars under shafts mandatory. This practice is common in other countries,” he said.
On his part, Bago said there is a need for a concerted effort between the federal government and sub-nationals to ensure mining companies comply with safety standards. The governor advocated for the strengthening of collaborative measures to enhance periodic monitoring and evaluation of the environmental impact of mining operations to minimise recurrence of such incidents. Citing the preponderance of commercially viable critical minerals in the state, Bago appealed to the federal government to focus on making the state the pivot for developing the nation’s mining sector. He accompanied the minister to visit recuperating victims of the collapsed site at IBB Specialist Hospital and announced a donation of N50 million to assist impacted patients and families on behalf of President Bola Tinubu.
