More Respite for Families of Deceased Illegal Miners in Niger as Bago Compensates

Following the federal government's N250 million payouts to families and survivors of 37 deceased illegal miners, the Niger State Government has also allocated N249 million to the same group. Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago announced that each deceased miner's family will receive N5 million, while each of the 32 survivors will get N2 million.

The financial assistance aims to alleviate the economic and emotional hardships of the affected families and survivors, while also providing them with the means to pursue safer and more sustainable livelihoods. In addition to the monetary support, Bago revealed that the state government has instructed the Niger State Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB) to open schools in relevant communities to encourage children to enroll in education instead of engaging in the dangerous artisanal mining practices.

This initiative is part of a larger effort to protect children, enhance access to education, and improve opportunities for the younger generation. Bago emphasized that the financial aid would also enable beneficiaries to transition away from unsafe and unprofessional mining practices. The governor appealed to the survivors and other young people in mining communities to abandon hazardous artisanal mining and seek alternative, safer, and more sustainable sources of income.

Bago expressed gratitude to the deceased miners' families and survivors for their resilience, patience, and understanding during this challenging period. He also praised the Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umar Faruk Bahago, for his contributions to maintaining peace within his region and for the crucial role he played in comforting and assisting the families impacted by the tragedy.