Coal Mine Collapse in Kogi Kills 20, Senate Demands Urgent Safety Overhaul
At a coal mining site in Alufele, Enjema District, Ankpa LGA, Kogi State, a collapse on July 14 trapped miners beneath the earth and claimed 20 lives. On July 22, Senator Isah Jibrin moved a motion in the Senate under Standing Orders 41 and 51. He warned that outdated room-and-pillar methods and weak regulation have turned many artisanal mines into death traps. Lawmakers resolved to overhaul Nigeria’s mining safety regime. They called for a nationwide audit of licensed operators, stricter enforcement of standards and compulsory occupational accident insurance for all miners. A statutory Mining Workers Compensation Scheme and a Victims Support Fund were also recommended. Senators noted that Enjema, Okaba and Ikah communities lie on unstable formations prone to landslides. They decried the lack of formal contracts, insurance and social support for miners, and urged stronger protection for workers and the environment as the solid minerals sector expands.
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