FG Warns Against Storing Explosives for Illegal Mining After Deadly Niger Blast
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
The Federal Government has issued a stern warning against the storage of explosives for illegal mining following a deadly dynamite explosion in Sabon Pegi, Niger State.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, delivered the warning during a condolence visit to the affected community.
The explosion, which occurred on Monday, claimed lives and destroyed property, raising concerns over the dangers of unregulated mining activities.
The Minister accompanied by Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, Senator Abubakar Sani Bello, and Speaker of the State Assembly Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji, emphasised that such illegal practices endanger lives and must stop immediately.
“These tragedies are man-made, and we cannot allow them to continue,” Idris stated, revealing that President Bola Tinubu has directed the reorganisations of the solid minerals sector to prevent further incidents.
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has also been tasked with intensifying public awareness campaigns to educate communities about the dangers of illegal mining.
He commended the Niger State Government’s swift response and confirmed that the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) would provide relief to victims.
The explosion highlights ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s mining sector, with authorities vowing stricter enforcement to prevent future disasters.
