The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, on Friday in Abuja received report of the 18-member Federal Government investigative committee on Zurak mine gas poisoning in Wase Local Government Area, Plateau State, which claimed 37 lives.
Alake said incident, which occurred February 18, 2026, remains first gas-poisoning accident in Nigeria’s mining history.
Speaking after receiving report from committee Chairman and Permanent Secretary of Ministry, Engr Faruk Yusuf Yabo, Alake said government must be pragmatic about accidents while working to reduce human cost to barest minimum.
“I wish to formally thank you, entire members of committee, for a very good job. I want to express my personal confidence in capacity of this committee to come up with appropriate solutions to occurrences of this nature, which are deleterious to continued success of Solid Minerals sector.”
He recalled he was out of country when incident happened but immediately mobilized mines inspectorate director of the Ministry of solid minerals and relevant officers who moved to site with Plateau State Government.
“I spoke with governor himself, and security was provided. It’s quite unfortunate for anybody to wake up and pursue his or her daily lives, and suddenly not to be able to come back home.”
“Accidents will always happen. We pray not to get involved. Reality of life and nature is that accidents do happen. But our onerous responsibility is to envisage and make arrangements to ameliorate expected impact, so that social cost will be negligible, and especially to prevent loss of precious lives.”
Alake said God has endowed humanity with brain to conquer environment, noting developed societies obey divine injunction by creating mechanisms to survive harsh conditions like winter and snow.
“We need to gather ourselves and improve our regulatory frameworks to increase enforcement of policies, particularly preventive policies.”
Minister emphasized report confirmed victims were illegal operators who entered abandoned underground alleys dating back to German and British colonial era, where carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulphide accumulated due to poor ventilation.
“This is first time in history of mining in Nigeria that we are having this kind of accident attributed to poisonous gas leakage. We’ve had collapses before. This is first gaseous inhalation. Victims, may their souls rest, were all illegal operators. It means our policy framework has not been in vain if we’ve been able to contain such accidents in legitimate sites.”
He said legitimate sites allow officials to monitor and enforce regulations, unlike remote illegal sites.
Alake said on assumption of office, he identified illegal mining as pernicious challenge crippling sector’s commercial potential, making its combat one of seven-point agenda pillars, leading to establishment of Mining Marshals with Ministry of Interior.
“Mining Marshals has been extremely salutary. Before, illegal mining was carried out with impunity, flagrantly, as if nobody was in charge. Difference was nobody was ready to design a clear pathway and execute it.”
He disclosed over 100 mining sites recovered from illegal operators and returned to owners, with hundreds arrested and prosecuted.
On recommendations, Alake said two key proposals caught his attention: strengthening enforcement capacity and establishing Army battalion in Zurak.
“Most effective is strengthening capacity of enforcement agencies, particularly Mining Marshals. Imagine if we have presence in almost every local government, not just personnel but equipment, armaments, high-tech gadgets. Within one year, there will be remarkable reduction in illegal mining.”
“Zurak area is so remote, like out of civilization, terrain difficult. Not usual super highways. If we have battalion stationed there, presence will deter. After Marshals clear illegal site, barracks will be there to maintain free access for legitimate operators.”
He said both interventions are complementary and would cut such incidents by more than half.
Alake said public presentation of report was deliberate to dispel notion that government committees end in oblivion.
“That perception does not hold with this administration. Committee has carried out its functions efficiently and submitted detailed, concise report whose recommendations speak to main issues.”
He urged right mental attitude, saying Nigerians must stop outsourcing to God what brain can solve, like developing gas-detection gadgets.
“God has given us brain. Difference between us and animals is higher brain capacity. We must use it to conquer environment.”
Presenting report, Yabo said incident occurred within mineral lease ML 11810 operated by Solid Unit Nigeria Limited, first reported gas poisoning in Nigeria.
“Behind each statistic is a family, a community mourning.”
Committee inaugurated April 16, 2026 with 10-point terms: establish causes, examine compliance, assess security and environment, review community relations, recommend reforms.
It had 19 members plus secretary from federal, state, security agencies, technical bodies, host community, with five subcommittees: governance, technical, security, health/safety/environment, community/company relations. Eight memoranda received.
Field visit April 20 to Zurak, samples collected for lab analysis, engagements with Emir of Wase, village head, military formation.
Findings: victims died in abandoned colonial workings estimated at over 80 million tons never properly closed, attracting illegal miners during company’s holiday suspension. Victims not employees of Solid Unit.
On compliance: company holds valid title, maintains qualified personnel, current on annual fees, paid royalty on 71,130 tons produced 2022-January 2026, compliant on explosives use.
Recommendations:
• Firmly discourage illegal mining
• Strengthen title holders’ control over leased areas
• Operators take full safety responsibility within acquisition areas
• Solid Unit must seal and secure affected sites despite outside its active workings, sensitize community on dangers, establish skill acquisition for residents
• Better resource regulators
• Audit and secure abandoned legacy mines nationwide
Yabo thanked members for diligence under difficult conditions and urged ministry to implement recommendations faithfully.
Kania Maliki Andeyaba
Head of Press and Public Relations Department
30th October, 2026
