Plateau mining site where 37 died was shut down during my tenure in 2017 - Fayemi

Kayode Fayemi, a former governor of Ekiti, says the miningsite in Plateau state where 37 miners died was shut down during his tenure asthe minister of solid minerals development. Fayemi served as the minister of solid minerals developmentfrom 2015 to 2018 under the administration of the late former PresidentMuhammadu Buhari. Last Wednesday, at least 37 miners died after being exposedto carbon monoxide while working in an underground mining site in Zurak, WaseLGA of Plateau state. Over 25 miners were hospitalised due to the incident,following which the federal government ordered the closure of the mining site. ‘OPERATORS OF PLATEAU MINING SITE WERE ARRESTED IN 2017’In a statement released via X on Sunday, Fayemi said hevisited the Zurak mining site in 2017 alongside Babagana Monguno, then nationalsecurity adviser (NSA). The former minister said he ordered the immediate closure ofthe mining site and the arrest of illegal Chinese operators. Fayemi said the purported owner of the mining site,identified as “Alhaji Dan China”, was declared wanted by the police and laterarrested but was later released after he left office. “As minister of mines, I visited the mines with the NSA andthe governor following numerous complaints from the community,” the statementreads. “We embargoed mining at the sites, arrested the illegalChinese operators, and declared the purported owner of the illegal lead andzinc mines, Alhaji Dan China, wanted. “He was eventually apprehended and brought to book by theNational Security Adviser but was released after I left office. “My preliminary discussions with officials of the Ministry,as well as with the former Deputy Speaker and Wase representative in the Houseof Representatives, Rt Hon Idris Wase, indicate that this tragedy occurred atthe same mine. “It could have been avoided if the security agencies hadsustained the action taken by the Ministry in 2017. “My sincere condolences go to the families of the deceased.Government must now take firm and decisive action against operators who violatethe law and environmental regulations, regardless of whose interests areaffected. Mining activities must not be conducted to the detriment of hostcommunities.”

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