By Jelili Gbadamosi
The Kogi State House of Assembly has called for stricter monitoring of mining activities across the state following the mining disaster that claimed several lives in Alufele, Enjema District of Ankpa Local Government Area.
The House made the call during Tuesday’s plenary of the Eighth Assembly after the member representing Ankpa II State Constituency, Ibrahim Abbas, raised a motion of urgent public importance over the July 14, 2026 incident.
Abbas urged the state government and relevant agencies to strengthen safety regulations and monitoring mechanisms to prevent a recurrence of the disaster.
He also appealed to the state government, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (KOSEMA) and other relevant authorities to provide immediate relief, medical care and other assistance to victims of the incident and families of those who died.
The lawmaker said the disaster highlighted the need for responsible exploitation of Kogi’s mineral resources, stressing that mining activities must be accompanied by proper environmental management and adequate safety measures.
Abbas also called for increased public awareness on mining safety, capacity-building programmes for artisanal miners and the provision of alternative sources of livelihood for individuals who may be affected by stricter regulatory measures.
He said such measures would help reduce the risks associated with unsafe mining practices while protecting the livelihoods of communities dependent on the sector.
Ruling on the motion, the Speaker of the House, Aliyu Yusuf, urged lawmakers to support submissions on matters affecting their constituents with empirical evidence.
Yusuf also stressed the need for stronger safety standards and improved oversight of mining activities across the state.
The Assembly’s resolution comes amid renewed concerns over safety practices in mining communities and the need for relevant authorities to strengthen enforcement of existing regulations.
