By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
KOGI State House of Assembly has called for stronger safety regulatorys following the recent mining disaster in Alufele, Enjema District of Ankpa Local Government Area which left at least 20 people dead.
The demand followed a motion of urgent public importance raised during Tuesday’s plenary by the member representing Ankpa II State Constituency, Hon. Ibrahim Abbas, over the incident which occurred on July 14, 2026.
Abbas described the tragedy as a painful reminder of the dangers associated with mining activities when mineral exploitation is not matched with adequate environmental and safety standards.
He urged the state government, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (KOSEMA) and other relevant agencies to provide immediate relief and necessary support to the victims and their families.
The lawmaker said the government had a constitutional responsibility to protect the lives and welfare of citizens, stressing that the abundance of mineral resources in Kogi must be harnessed in a manner that safeguards human lives and the environment.
According to him, Kogi’s rich deposits of solid minerals, particularly coal, have enormous potential to drive industrialisation, create jobs and boost the state’s economic development.
He, however, noted that artisanal mining had become an important source of livelihood for many residents and a driver of economic activities in mining communities, but warned that the Ankpa tragedy had exposed the urgent need for improved safety practices and closer collaboration among stakeholders.
Abbas called for intensified public enlightenment on mine safety, as well as technical guidance, capacity building and alternative livelihood programmes for artisanal miners, especially those whose operations may be affected by regulatory interventions.
He said government must move beyond offering condolences after disasters by taking concrete steps to prevent future tragedies, insisting that the victims, their families and the people of Kogi deserved decisive action.
The House consequently urged the state government to work with the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, security agencies, local government councils, traditional institutions, host communities and licensed mining operators to strengthen community-based monitoring and promote safe mining practices.
It further called for environmental restoration, technical assistance, vocational training and alternative livelihood initiatives for artisanal miners affected by regulatory measures.
Seconding the motion, the member representing Ajaokuta State Constituency, Hon. Abu Onoru-Oiza Abu, proposed that mining operators in Ankpa Local Government Area be summoned to explain the safety measures they had put in place to prevent a recurrence.
Ruling on the motion, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Yusuf, emphasised the need for empirical evidence when issues affecting constituents are brought before the House and called for stronger safety standards and enforcement across mining operations in the state.
