Plateau Tragedy: NOA Mourns 35 Miners, Calls For Strict Safety Compliance

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic death of more than 35 miners at Kanpani Zurak in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State, urging the strict enforcement of safety regulations and improved protective measures across mining sites nationwide.

In a statement issued to journalists on Monday in Abuja, the Director General of the Agency, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, described the accident as completely unacceptable in a modern society, stressing that compliance with established safety rules must be treated as a top priority to safeguard human lives and protect critical national infrastructure.

He noted that the dangers associated with unauthorised mining activities and substandard safety practices far outweigh any perceived benefits, warning that such reckless operations often lead to devastating consequences, including fatal explosions and infernos such as the one recorded in Wase.

According to the DG, repeated mining disasters resulting in mass casualties and national trauma are entirely preventable if operators adhere strictly to laid-down safety standards and regulatory frameworks.

“We mourn the loss of our compatriots in the mining community and extend our deepest condolences to the grieving families. We stand in solidarity with them, with the state, and with Nigeria as a whole,” Issa-Onilu stated.

He called on regulatory authorities and stakeholders within the mining sector to intensify enforcement of safety standards, emphasizing the need for routine inspections, proper monitoring of mining sites, and decisive action against illegal operators to forestall future occurrences.