The Senate has asked the federal government to take action and deploy security agencies to mining communities nationwide.
This came after a motion was presented by Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East) during the plenary session, addressing the recent collapse of a mining site in Niger State.
According to Musa, the collapse of the mining site in Galadima Kogo, Shiroro local government area (LGA) of Niger State, resulted in the death of over 30 individuals, while seven others were fortunately rescued.
The Niger State commissioner for humanitarian affairs and disaster management, Ahmed Yumu, said rescue operations were hindered by insecurity and the terrain.
In the motion, Musa emphasised the urgent need to secure not only the Niger mining site but also other mining communities to prevent future incidents. He stressed that deploying adequate security agencies to these areas could reduce illegal mining and its consequences.
Additionally, Senator Musa called upon the federal government to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collapse of the mining site in Niger.
Furthermore, Senator Musa urged the Senate to encourage the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant government agencies to recover the remains of the deceased individuals trapped in the collapsed mining site. He also requested that the Senate’s Committee on Solid Minerals conduct an on-site assessment to determine the cause of the rockslide.
The deputy Senate president, Barau Jibrin, expressed concern over the devastating impact of illegal mining on the affected communities and the country’s economy.
He stressed the importance of strengthening the regulation of the solid mineral sector and ensuring that illegal miners pay the necessary fees to the government. Jibrin called for the exploitation of solid minerals to align with international best practices, emphasising the need for collaboration between various entities to address this issue effectively.
Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) condemned the incident, describing it as a sorrowful moment for Nigerians. He highlighted the dangers posed by illegal mining to the people. Imasuen Bernards (LP, Edo South) urged the government to address the adverse effects of illegal mining, while Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno North) lamented the absence of a legal framework guiding the mining sector as a major reason for illegal mining in the country.
After a thorough debate on the motion, the apex legislative Assembly observed a minute of silence in honour of the victims of the collapsed mining site.
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