President Bola Tinubu expressed his condolences to the Niger State governor and the families of the victims of the recent mining site collapse at Galadima Kogo in the Shiroro Local Government Area of the state.
Following the tragic incident, the federal government has announced its decision to implement an insurance policy for mine workers in Nigeria to ensure their safety and well-being.
Mr. Dele Alake, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, expressed President Tinubu’s condolences during a visit to Gov. Umar Bago of Niger State in Minna.
Persecondnews recalls that on June 3, a mining site collapsed in Galkogo village, Shiroro Local Government Area, Niger State, claiming several lives.
The mine site continued to collapse, hindering rescue efforts and forcing rescuers to flee for their safety due to the hazardous conditions exacerbated by banditry in the area.
Segun Tomori, the Minister’s media assistant, said in a statement obtained by Persecondnews: “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.
“Though we learned the disaster was due to heavy downpour, we are committed to intensifying the monitoring of mining operations to ensure conformity to environmental standards.”
Alake praised the swift response of the Niger State government in launching emergency rescue operations in conjunction with federal agencies, emphasizing the importance of sparing no effort to rescue those still trapped in the mine.
He announced a two-pronged approach to improve the mining industry’s safety and sustainability.
“Firstly, he announced the enforcement of insurance policies for all miners nationwide, which will provide financial support to miners and their families in the event of accidents.
“Secondly, he stressed that mining license applications must be accompanied by robust remediation plans, signalling a zero-tolerance policy for irresponsible mining operations that harm 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,” Alake added.
Gov. Bago thanked President Tinubu for his condolence visit and stressed the importance of a collaborative effort between the federal government and state governments to ensure mining companies adhere to safety protocols.
He called for enhanced cooperation to intensify regular monitoring and assessment of the environmental impact of mining operations, aimed at preventing similar tragedies and mitigating their effects.
He highlighted the state’s abundance of commercially viable critical minerals and urged the federal government to designate Niger State as the hub for developing Nigeria’s mining sector, leveraging its rich resources to drive growth and development.
Bago, accompanied by Alake on a visit to the IBB Specialist Hospital, presented a cheque for N50 million on behalf of President Bola Tinubu to support the medical expenses of the mine collapse victims and their families, as well as expedite their recovery and rehabilitation.
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