NOA Mourns Plateau Mine Disaster Victims, Urges Strict Safety Enforcement

NOA Mourns Plateau Mine Disaster Victims, Urges Strict Safety Enforcement

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic death of dozens of miners in Plateau State and called for the strict enforcement of safety regulations across mining sites nationwide.

The call follows a deadly incident on February 18, 2026, at a mining site in Kampanin Zurak, Wase Local Government Area, where at least 37 miners reportedly died after being exposed to toxic gas while working underground.

Police and security reports attributed the deaths to carbon monoxide poisoning caused by accumulated gases in poorly ventilated mine shafts. More than two dozen others were hospitalised following the collapse and gas exposure.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Director General of NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, described the tragedy as unacceptable in a modern society and urged authorities and stakeholders to take decisive steps to prevent a recurrence.

Issa-Onilu warned that the dangers linked to unauthorised mining operations and inadequate safety measures far outweigh any perceived benefits. He noted that such negligence often results in loss of lives, explosions, and other catastrophic outcomes.

He called for stronger regulatory oversight and routine inspections of mining activities to ensure compliance with established safety standards.

“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 said.

The Wase disaster adds to a growing list of mining-related accidents in Nigeria in recent years. In November 2024, at least 13 persons lost their lives when a mining pit collapsed in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, raising fresh concerns about safety practices in informal mining operations.

Similarly, a mining pit collapse in Ebonyi State in February 2026 claimed multiple lives, further highlighting the recurring hazards associated with poorly regulated artisanal and small-scale mining activities.

Issa-Onilu urged Nigerians to reject practices that have repeatedly resulted in mass casualties and national trauma, stressing that such tragedies are preventable when safety rules are strictly followed.

He called on regulatory authorities and mining operators to intensify enforcement of safety protocols, strengthen routine inspections, and ensure that adequate protective equipment is provided at all mining sites.

The NOA Director General emphasised that preventing further loss of lives in the mining sector requires collective responsibility, adding that government, industry players, and host communities must work together to break the cycle of avoidable disasters.