Kogi govt to develop policies, strategies to guarantee safety in mining operations

The Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Ododo, has pledged his administration’s collaboration with the Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers (NSME) to develop policies and strategies to ensure safety in mining operations across the state.

The governor made this known during the opening address at the 25th Annual General Meeting and International Conference of the NSME, held at the Adankolo Campus of the Federal University, Lokoja, Kogi State.

Ododo, who was represented by the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Abanika Taiye, commended the society for its achievements and urged its members to sustain their contributions to the development of the mining industry.

He expressed satisfaction with Kogi State’s abundant mineral resources, stressing that the major challenge was translating these natural endowments into sustainable economic growth and improved living conditions for the people.

He described the solid minerals sector as a valuable component of the state’s economy and called on interested investors to partner with the government to harness the resources for socioeconomic development and job creation.

“The solid mineral sector is of high value to the state; hence, my administration’s demand for any willing investors to come and help us tap these resources to the benefit of the people as regards socioeconomic development and job creation,” Ododo said.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers (NSME) has called on the Federal Government to strengthen safety regulations in mining operations, recruit more mining professionals and ensure strict compliance with existing mining laws to prevent accidents and loss of lives.

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The National President of the society, Engr. Umar Hassan, stressed that safety must remain a top priority in all mining activities, warning that human lives must never be sacrificed for production targets or commercial interests.

He said recent mining accidents that resulted in loss of lives, including incidents at the Zurak Mine, Dekina coal fields and Niger State gold fields, underscored the urgent need for improved safety measures and effective supervision across the sector.

“We must ensure that recent loss of lives from mine accidents and related circumstances, as recorded in the Zurak Mine accident, Dekina coal fields and Niger State gold fields, do not happen again,” he said.

The NSME president urged the Federal Government to urgently recruit additional mining and mineral processing engineers to strengthen the operations of mines inspectorate offices across the country.

According to him, the additional professionals would enhance the monitoring of mining activities, improve safety enforcement and ensure compliance with the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007, and its accompanying regulations of 2011.

He also called on the government to compel mining operators to employ qualified mining and mineral processing engineers to supervise their mining activities and mineral processing plants, in accordance with Section 73 of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007.

Hassan described the theme of the society’s Silver Jubilee Conference, “From Potential to Prosperity: Engineering the Solid Minerals Sector as a Catalyst for Nigeria’s Economic Renewal,” as timely, noting that it highlighted the importance of professional engineering in unlocking the country’s mineral wealth.

He observed that Nigeria’s abundant mineral resources offered a historic opportunity for economic transformation but stressed that achieving sustainable prosperity would require sound policies, reliable geoscience data, responsible investments, modern infrastructure, environmental protection, technological innovation and professional leadership.

“As we mark the Silver Jubilee Conference, let us renew our commitment to building a mining sector that is safe, inclusive, environmentally responsible, innovative and globally competitive,” he urged.

The NSME president explained that the society, inaugurated on June 24, 1989, was established to promote the science and practice of engineering in mining, mineral processing, extractive metallurgy and geological engineering.

He listed its objectives to include bringing mining, mineral and geological engineers in Nigeria under one professional umbrella, advancing mining engineering practice and preserving professional knowledge in geology, mining, mineral processing and extractive metallurgy.

Other objectives, he said, include presenting the society’s position to the government on relevant legislative matters, protecting members’ interests and promoting their welfare.