Abuja: The Nigeria Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) says licence holders should be held accountable for incidents at their mining sites. The NMGS President, Ms Rose Ndong, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) following the death of more than 30 miners in Plateau.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, at least 37 miners died and 25 were hospitalised recently at a mining site in Kampani Zurak, Wase Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau. The victims were exposed to gaseous emissions while allegedly mining at an underground mining site. The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, had directed the closure of the site area covered by Mining Licence 11810, operated by Solid Unit Nigeria Limited, to contain the situation and investigate.
Ndong stated that licence holders must be fully responsible for activities on their sites, including enforcing all safety measures. She emphasized that the government should hold them accountable for their areas and make them the first po
int of contact if anything happens on their land. Ndong noted that if trespassers are present but not reported, it implies complicity.
She acknowledged the occurrence of scavenging at mining sites, where people enter abandoned or active mines in search of valuable minerals. Ndong suggested that if licence holders permit artisanal miners to operate within their concessions, they should provide guidance, safety measures, and basic equipment to ensure safe mining activities.
Ndong expressed concern that deaths caused by gaseous emissions at mining sites still occur despite campaigns promoting safe and sustainable mining practices, especially following past incidents like the Zamfara lead poisoning crisis. She explained that gases could accumulate in abandoned mines, making them hazardous upon reentry without proper assessment or ventilation, and urged mine licence holders to ensure environmental reclamation after operations.
Ndong highlighted that past mining regulations did not strongly require land reclamat
ion, resulting in many abandoned mine pits turning into erosion sites or hazardous water bodies. She pointed out that newer policies now emphasize environmental reclamation. Community leaders also play a role in ensuring safe mining practices, as they often grant access to mining sites within their communities.
She stressed the importance of public awareness and sensitisation, noting that organisations such as Women in Mining are doing excellent work at the community level by interacting directly with people involved in artisanal mining. Ndong concluded by stating that stronger accountability, stricter enforcement, and sustained public education are critical to preventing tragedies like the Wase incident.