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)

The federal government, through the Nigerian Park Service (NPS), has officially taken over Pandam Park from the Plateau Government.

The handover, which took place on Friday in Jos, was coordinated by the state’s Tourism Corporation, with members of the Plateau Executive Council and senior officers of the NPS in attendance.

Pandam National Park is a major game reserve and conservation area located in Quanpan Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State, along the Lafia-Shendam Road.

The park had been partially shut down due to severe security challenges, abandonment and encroachment by criminal elements.

Pwajok Chuwang, general manager of the Plateau Tourism Corporation, who represented Governor Caleb Mutfwang, expressed delight over the development, describing it as a step in the right direction for the state.

Mr Chuwang, who enumerated employment opportunities and insecurity, among other factors, as reasons for the decision, said it was a win-win situation for the state.

“As a government, we came to the realisation that there are enormous advantages for Plateau to gain from having the Federal Government take over the management of the Pandam National Park.

“The case of ungoverned spaces in Nigeria has been a major contributor to insecurity and all sorts of criminal activities, including kidnappings, terrorism and related activities in Plateau and other parts of the country. Pandam National Park was almost a no-go area for citizens of Plateau due to such criminal activities within the cover of the forest; almost every major kidnapping incident that happened within the Quan’pan, Lafiya, and Shendam axis of Plateau was orchestrated from within that park.

“Today’s handing over will help rid the environment of miscreants, provide employment for citizens of the state, and relieve the state government of the enormous resources required to cater for the park. Above all, this is a win-win situation for all concerned, as collaborations between the state government and FG are always highly welcome, because we will be huge beneficiaries of all the critical developments that will take place within that environment,” he said.

On his part, Ibrahim Goni, the Conservator-General of the NPS, represented by Jonah Moses, said the park would remain a heritage of the Plateau people but would henceforth be managed by the federal government.

Mr Goni added that with the FG’s involvement in its management, Plateau would benefit more in terms of tourism development, employment opportunities and efforts to tackle the menace of terrorism originating from hideouts in the forest.

“On behalf of the Conservator General, I appreciate the gesture of His Excellency, the executive governor of Plateau, through the Tourism Corporation for deeming it fit to hand over Pandam Wildlife Park to the Federal Government as a national park.

“As a service, this is actually a joy to us that another park has been added to the number we have before now. We want to assure us that Pandam National Park is in Plateau; it is not going to be shifted from Plateau, every enhancement, every development, and any progress that is going to be recorded in that park is going to be directly or indirectly impactful on this state and its people.

“You will agree with me that this is actually a milestone as far as youth development and employment is concerned. Before now, Pandam was a viable ground for tourism, but the place has been shut down because of several visible factors. Now with the coming of the NPS into this intervention, we want to assure you that Pandam National Park is going to be revamped and resuscitated, and tourism will be enhanced in the state,” Mr Goni said.

(NAN)