Senate Seeks Urgent Action on Deadly Kogi Coal Mine Collapse, Pushes Compensation Scheme for Miners
The Senate is set to consider a motion by Senator Isah Jibrin (Kogi East) calling for urgent federal intervention to address the growing safety risks, environmental hazards and humanitarian crisis associated with unsafe coal mining activities in Ankpa and other coal-bearing communities in Kogi State, following a tragic landslide that reportedly claimed 20 lives.
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Moving a motion of urgent national importance under Orders 41 and 51 of the Senate Standing Orders, Senator Jibrin drew attention to the deteriorating safety conditions in coal mining communities of Enjema, Okaba and Ikah in Ankpa Local Government Area, as well as parts of Omala and Olamaboro Local Government Areas, which form part of the Ankpa Coal Block in the Anambra Basin.
The lawmaker noted that while coal mining remains a major economic activity in the area, the geological composition of the coal deposits—characterised by loose sandstone, clay, shale, mudstone and unconsolidated sediments—makes the terrain highly vulnerable to subsidence, landslides and ground failure, especially under heavy mechanical operations.
He lamented that on July 14, 2026, a major landslide occurred at Alufele in Enjema District, trapping artisanal and small-scale miners underground while several trucks reportedly sank into mining pits during loading operations. According to the motion, the disaster resulted in the deaths of 20 workers and left several others injured.
Senator Jibrin attributed the recurring tragedies to unsafe mining practices, particularly the widespread use of the room-and-pillar mining system without adequate structural reinforcement such as timber, steel or concrete supports, exposing miners to roof collapses and cave-ins.
He also expressed concern over the siting of heavy-duty loading points close to unstable mining pits, warning that such practices worsen geological instability and endanger miners, transport operators and surrounding communities.
The senator further decried the poor welfare of many artisanal miners, saying they often operate without written employment contracts, health insurance, life insurance, social security or occupational hazard insurance, leaving victims and their families without financial protection in the event of accidents.
He observed that families of deceased miners and workers who suffer permanent injuries are frequently denied adequate compensation, rehabilitation or alternative means of livelihood despite the economic value generated from the nation’s mineral resources.
According to him, the absence of mandatory insurance coverage and enforceable compensation mechanisms shifts the burden of industrial accidents entirely onto vulnerable families, many of whom lose their breadwinners without any form of social protection.
Citing global best practices, Senator Jibrin noted that many mining jurisdictions have institutionalised compulsory workers’ compensation insurance and occupational health protection schemes that provide medical care, rehabilitation, disability benefits and compensation for miners and their families.
He warned that unless urgent corrective measures are implemented, unsafe mining practices and unstable geological conditions within the Ankpa Coal Block could lead to more mine collapses, loss of lives, environmental degradation and destruction of mining assets.
To address the situation, the senator urged the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, particularly its Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Department, to conduct a nationwide audit of licensed mining operators to strengthen monitoring and regulatory oversight.
He also called on the Federal Government to establish a statutory Mining Workers’ Compensation Scheme funded through mandatory contributions from licensed mining operators to provide compensation for occupational injuries, permanent disabilities, occupational diseases and deaths arising from mining activities.
The motion further urged the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), in collaboration with the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, to develop compulsory occupational accident insurance covering all categories of miners, including artisanal and small-scale miners operating under recognised cooperatives or community mining arrangements.
Senator Jibrin also proposed the establishment of a Mine Rehabilitation and Victims Support Fund to provide emergency medical treatment, rehabilitation, compensation for injured miners, educational support for children of deceased miners and livelihood assistance for affected families.
He further urged the Senate Committees on Solid Minerals Development, Environment, Labour, Employment and Productivity, and Health to jointly engage relevant ministries and agencies on implementing the proposed measures and report back to the Senate within six weeks.
As a mark of respect for those who lost their lives, the motion also called on the Senate to observe a minute’s silence in honour of the victims of the July 14 landslide at Alufele in Enjema District, Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State.
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, JULY 22ND 2026)
