Forty artisanal ad-hoc staff have been recruited to assist with the evacuation of rubble inside the pit and on the overburden of the collapsed mining pits that killed several people last week in Niger State.
This was disclosed when a committee headed by the director of mining, Engr Adamu Garba Musa, visited the African Minerals and Logistics Ltd site where the incident occurred.
A release on the latest developments at the site signed by the Ministry of Mineral Resources Niger State, Moureen Dibia said the company has deployed additional equipment, including three excavators, two drilling machines, seven pumping machines, and a power generator to help in the excavation.
“They have also recruited over 40 artisanal ad hoc staff to assist with the evacuation of rubble inside the pit and on the overburden,” the statement on the assessment visit of the ministerial committee added.
The statement stated, “Following the directive of the Hon. commissioner of the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Niger State, Hon. Garba Sabo Yahaya Auna, the permanent secretary, convened a meeting with two mining stakeholders, the Nigeria Union of Mines Workers and the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN). The purpose of the meeting was to review the situation at the site where victims were trapped in a collapsed gold mining pit in Galadimakogo, Shiroro LGA, Niger State.
“After the meeting, a four-person committee comprised two representatives from each of the two unions and two members from the Ministry of Mineral Resources, and the committee was taken around the site. The committee observed significant progress and advised the rescue operation’s technical personnel to continue in the same direction.”
She said the committee noted that the clearance of the pit to the tunnel had been completed, providing access to the blocked entrance where the victims are trapped. The committee also discovered three blocks of rocks obstructing the tunnel. One has already been removed, while efforts are underway to dismantle one of the remaining two with the help of artisanal mine workers who believe that successful removal may lead to the rescue of some victims.
The statement said the committee recognised the company’s seriousness and commitment towards rescuing the victims and recommended that they be commended and encouraged to continue their efforts.
