DEATH AND THE ARTISANAL MINERS
There is need to do more to safeguard lives In what is becoming a recurring tragedy, seven miners lost their lives last Wednesday in Kassa community, Barkin Ladi Local Government
Over the past year, a recurring pattern of mining accidents has claimed the lives of many individuals across various regions in Nigeria. A particularly tragic incident occurred in Kassa community, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, where seven miners perished when a mining pit collapsed on March 8th. Similar tragedies have unfolded before, such as the Kampani Zurak community in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State, where 37 miners lost their lives in February due to a collapsed mining site.
According to Kayode Fayemi, a former Minister of Solid Minerals, the incident at Kampani Zurak could have been avoided if the mining site had been sealed after the federal government shut it down in 2017.
Despite the inherent risks, illegal mining continues to be a prevalent issue, especially in the northern part of the country. The House of Representatives ad hoc committee on illegal mining has estimated that this illicit activity results in an annual loss of $9 billion. Despite efforts to standardize artisanal mining procedures and terms, confusion remains surrounding the definitions of various mining practices, including illegal, unregulated, and informal mining.
In Zamfara State, armed gangs often control gold fields, leading to violence and deadly accidents. Government officials have expressed concerns over the excessive rainfall, which could result in further mining pit collapses. Additionally, there is a growing concern that the nexus between unregulated mining, banditry, and other criminal activities, such as kidnappings for ransom and community unrest, continues to escalate.
Efforts to address the issue of illegal mining have included improving mobility for field officers and organizing artisanal miners into cooperatives. However, the real challenge lies in sustaining these efforts and enhancing them to significantly reduce incidents of illegal mining across the country. There is a pressing need for better organization of the sector to attract local and foreign investors, alongside emphasizing improved safety standards to prevent future tragedies.
Moreover, a coordinated and adequate emergency response system is crucial in addressing the ongoing crisis.
Written by urgent.news from This Day's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
