Kogi Assembly seeks stronger safety regulations after mining disaster

The Kogi State House of Assembly has called for urgent intervention to assist victims of the recent mining disaster in Alufele, Enjema District of Ankpa Local Government Area, and demanded stronger safety regulations to prevent a recurrence.

The member representing Ankpa II State Constituency, Ibrahim Abbas, moved a motion of urgent public importance during Tuesday’s plenary of the Eighth Assembly, leading to the House’s resolution on the matter.

The mining incident, which took place on July 14, 2026, claimed several lives and raised serious concerns about safety standards and mining practices in the area, Abbas said.

The lawmaker appealed to the state government, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (KOSEMA) and other relevant authorities to provide immediate relief, medical care and other forms of assistance to the affected victims and their families to cushion the hardship they are currently facing.

The incident, Abbas explained, was a painful reminder that the exploitation of the state’s mineral resources must be carried out alongside responsible environmental management and adequate safety measures to ensure the safety of all.

The lawmaker stressed the need for increased public sensitisation on mining safety, capacity-building programmes for artisanal miners and the provision of alternative livelihoods for those whose activities may be affected by regulatory measures.

Ruling on the motion, the Speaker of the House, Aliyu Yusuf, stressed the need for lawmakers to support their submissions with empirical evidence when raising matters affecting their constituents.

The Speaker also called for stricter safety standards and improved monitoring of mining activities across Kogi State.