ABUJA — Minister of Soli Minerals Development, Dele Alake, on Wednesday ordered a full-scale investigation into the fatal gas poisoning at Zurak, Plateau State, declaring a policy of “zero tolerance for negligence” and announcing the immediate suspension of the operator, Solid Unit Mining Company Limited.
At the inauguration of a high-level investigative panel in Abuja, Alake said the February 18 incident, which claimed at least 37 lives and left more than 20 others hospitalised, underscored deep-seated lapses in safety compliance and regulatory enforcement within the mining sector.
“As painful as this incident is, it must serve as a wake-up call. We must ensure it is not reduced to a statistic but becomes a turning point for enforcing safety and accountability,” he said.
The minister disclosed that preliminary findings suggested a combination of poor adherence to health and safety standards, weak oversight by regulatory authorities, and operational negligence by the company, alongside unsafe practices within the host community.
In response, he said the Federal Government had suspended the firm from all mining activities pending the outcome of the investigation, describing the move as a necessary administrative step to safeguard lives and preserve the integrity of the probe.
“This is not punitive in the narrow sense. It is an administrative and safety imperative. Operations will only resume when we are satisfied that all conditions for safe mining have been met,” Alake stated.
He stressed that the incident, involving suspected gaseous emissions, marked a rare but serious deviation from more common mining accidents such as pit collapses and mudslides, thereby necessitating a rigorous technical inquiry.
According to him, the committee has been given a 21-day deadline to examine the immediate and underlying causes of the disaster, assess compliance with statutory obligations, and recommend reforms to prevent a recurrence.
“The Federal Government will act decisively on the outcome of this investigation. We will not allow the report to gather dust,” he said.
Situating the intervention within the broader reform agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Alake said the administration remained committed to repositioning the mining sector as a safe, transparent and globally competitive industry.
He outlined ongoing efforts by the ministry, including strengthened inspection regimes, enhanced environmental compliance monitoring, and expanded engagement with host communities to build trust and ensure inclusive resource governance.
“A sector plagued by preventable accidents cannot attract serious investment. Beyond economic gains, our priority is to protect lives and livelihoods,” he noted.
Alake also called on mining companies to deepen compliance with Community Development Agreements and prioritise safety, warning that the era of regulatory laxity was over.
“The relationship between operators and host communities must be built on trust and responsibility. Safety is not optional—it is fundamental,” he said.
He expressed confidence that the committee’s findings would not only establish accountability for the Zurak tragedy but also provide a framework for strengthening institutional safeguards across Nigeria’s mining industry.
