The Senate on Tuesday demanded an urgent overhaul of Nigeria’s mining safety regime following the deadly coal mine collapse in Kogi State that claimed about 20 lives, warning that weak regulation, unsafe mining practices and poor worker protection have turned many mining sites into death traps.
The Red Chamber said the recurring fatalities in the solid minerals sector underscore the urgent need for stricter enforcement of mining regulations, improved safety standards and stronger protection for workers operating in one of the country’s most hazardous industries.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Senator Isah Jibrin (Kogi East) under Orders 41 and 51 of the Senate Standing Orders on the alarming safety, environmental and humanitarian consequences of artisanal and small-scale coal mining in Ankpa and other coal-producing communities in Kogi State.
Lawmakers mourned the victims of the July 14, 2026 landslide at Alufele in Enjema District, where miners were trapped beneath collapsed earth. The disaster reportedly claimed about 20 lives, injured several others and swallowed heavy-duty trucks into collapsed mining pits.
The Senate observed that the coal-rich communities of Enjema, Okaba and Ikah, located within the Ankpa Coal Block of the Anambra Basin, lie on unstable geological formations that are highly susceptible to landslides, subsidence and catastrophic ground failure.
According to the motion, unsafe mining techniques, particularly the widespread use of the room-and-pillar method without adequate structural reinforcement, have significantly heightened the risk of fatal mine collapses.
Beyond the immediate tragedy, senators decried the poor welfare of mining workers, noting that many operate without formal employment contracts, health insurance, life insurance or occupational hazard protection, leaving bereaved families without compensation or social support whenever accidents occur.
The Senate also warned that poorly regulated mining activities have continued to degrade the environment, destroy farmlands and threaten the livelihoods of host communities, even as Nigeria seeks to expand the solid minerals sector as a key pillar of economic diversification.
To stem the recurring disasters, lawmakers urged the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development to carry out a comprehensive nationwide audit of licensed mining operators and strengthen regulatory oversight to ensure strict compliance with safety standards.
The Senate further called on the Federal Government to establish a statutory Mining Workers’ Compensation Scheme and a Mine Rehabilitation and Victims Support Fund to provide financial relief for victims and support the restoration of communities affected by mining activities.
It also urged the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to work with relevant stakeholders to introduce compulsory occupational accident insurance for all categories of miners across the country.
The relevant Senate committees were directed to engage the appropriate government agencies and report back within six weeks on the implementation of the resolutions.
In a solemn tribute to those who lost their lives in the Kogi mining disaster, senators observed a minute’s silence and reaffirmed their commitment to pursuing reforms that will make Nigeria’s mining industry safer, more accountable and better regulated.
