By Al- Kadriyar Abdullahi
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has mourned the deaths of miners in a tragic accident at Kanpani Zurak in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State, calling for stricter enforcement of safety regulations across mining sites nationwide.
In a statement issued by the agency, the Director-General of NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, described the incident as completely unacceptable in a modern society, stressing that strict compliance with safety rules and regulations must be made a top priority to protect human lives and preserve critical national infrastructure.
Issa-Onilu warned that the dangers associated with unauthorized mining activities and poor safety standards far outweigh any perceived benefits, noting that such practices often result in devastating consequences, including explosions and infernos that claim lives.
The statement by Paul Odenyi, Deputy Director, Communication NOA, the DG urges Nigerians to collectively stand against actions that have repeatedly led to mass casualties, national trauma and needless loss of lives, stressing that such tragedies are entirely avoidable with proper regulation and compliance.
“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,” the Director-General said.
He further called on relevant authorities and stakeholders in the mining sector to intensify efforts at enforcing compliance with established safety standards, urging that routine inspections and monitoring of mining sites be strengthened to prevent future occurrences.
