Plateau’s Wase deaths: Minister of Solid Minerals closes site, dispatches forensic investigators
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake has ordered the closure of areas covered by Mining Licence 11810 operated by Solid Unit Nigeria Limited owned by Abdullahi Dan-China in Zuraq, Wase Local Government of Plateau State following the deaths of villagers allegedly mining in pit containing gaseous emissions. In a condolence call to Governor Caleb Mutfwang, Alake sympathised...
38 miners killed in suspected carbon monoxide gas explosion in Plateau mine
At least 38 people have been killed and many others injured following a gas explosion at a lead mining site in central Nigeria's Plateau State. The incident occurred on Wednesday morning at a site operated by Solid Mining Company in the Zurak community of Wase Local Government Area, affecting mainly miners working underground. Preliminary reports showed that an accumulation of toxic...
EFCC secures interim attachment order on trucks used to ferry suspected illegally mined minerals in Kwara
The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, secured an interim attachment order for nine trucks loaded with assorted solid minerals, as well as the final forfeiture of the contents of another truck, in a sustained crackdown on illegal mining activities in Kwara and Oyo States. The order was granted by...
Remittance of 1% Nigerian Content Levy Still Mandatory – NCDMB
***Access to Approvals, Services Dependent on Payment Certificate The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on Tuesday reminded operators, contractors, and service companies in the upstream sector of the Nigerian oil and gas industry of their mandatory obligation to remit one percent (1%) Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF) levy into the bank accounts officially designated by the Board. In a...
Three feared dead, many injured in Ebonyi mining pit collapse
A mining pit at Enyim Agalegu community in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State collapsed on Saturday, leaving at least three persons dead and many others sustaining varying degrees of injury.The incident, which happened on Saturday, occurred at a mining pit said to be operated by First Patriots Limited, formerly known as Royal Salt.Confirming the development on Sunday...
Niger State Govt orders closure of mining site over deadly attack
The Niger State Government has condemned Tuesday deadly attack at Zuzungi Kataeregi mining site in Katcha Local Government Area, during which a police officer was killed and a patrol van of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) burnt by suspected illegal miners. The government has consequently ordered its temporary closure, according to a statement on Friday by the...
SMDF begins 2026 training for staff of Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Development Initiative
By Martha AgasThe Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) has begun its 2026 training for the staff of the Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Development Initiative (PAGMI) to drive reforms in the gold mining sector.The training on professional ethics and personal effectiveness was part of a series of capacity-building programmes by the SMDF aimed at equipping PAGMI`s staff with the skills...
China rejects US accusation of illegal mining, terrorism funding in Nigeria
*Kwara State Government with Chinese investors at a recent MOU signing between both parties The Chinese Embassy in Nigeria has rejected allegations linking Chinese mining companies to illegal mining activities and the funding of terrorism in Nigeria, describing the claims as false, “completely baseless” and damaging to China-Nigeria relations.In a press statement on Thursday, the embassy said a bill introduced...
FG vows to punish killers of NSCDC officer, kit marshals to combat illegal miners
*Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake* More weapons and equipment to boost the fire power of Mining Marshals to combat illegal mining are on the way, the Federal Government has assured. Reacting to the loss of an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps during an operation to counter illegal mining in Niger State, Minister of Solid...
Illegal miners kill police officer, burn NSCDC patrol vehicle in Niger State
Suspected illegal miners on Tuesday launched attack on a joint security patrol team in Kataeregi (Zuzungi area) of Niger State. They killed one police officer and set an NSCDC Hilux vehicle ablaze during the attack. The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Wasiu Abiodun and the NSCDC Niger State Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, confirmed the incident. Aniviye in a press...
