Causes of Fatal Mining Accidents on the Plateau

Illustration of mine collapse

Plateau State, Nigeria, is endowed with a variety of mineral resources, notably tin and columbite. Historically, the exploitation of these minerals attracted both local and international interests, shaping the cosmopolitan character of Jos, the state capital.

However, from the late 1970s, mining activities declined significantly due to a collapse in the global prices of tin and columbite, which were then the principal commercial minerals of value. In recent years, global advancements in science and technology have renewed demand for these minerals, alongside others that were previously discarded due to limited industrial application. This resurgence has reactivated artisanal and small-scale mining across Plateau State, providing a critical source of livelihood for large numbers of unemployed youths.

In much of the state, particularly in the northern zones, mineral deposits remain widely dispersed. Women, who often lack the capacity to sink shafts, typically engage in surface-level mining along water channels, where mineral concentrates settle after rainfall. Artisanal miners, in contrast, commonly dig shafts that extend between 50 and 70 feet in depth to access richer deposits, relying on rudimentary tools such as shovels, diggers, and improvised pulley systems.

Despite the economic opportunities mining presents, it is accompanied by severe occupational hazards. Fatal accidents are recurrent, often involving individuals motivated by poverty to supplement their income. For instance, reports indicate that even professionals, such as a primary school head teacher in December 2024, have lost their lives in mining pits while attempting to earn additional income for their families. Similarly, women and children have also been victims, highlighting the vulnerability of economically disadvantaged groups.

Several factors contribute to mining-related fatalities on the Plateau:

1. Mine collapses. After reaching the mineral “floor,” miners typically dig horizontal tunnels that may extend up to one hundred feet. The intervening walls are expected to serve as pillars to prevent collapse. However, when these pillars are weakened by excessive excavation—whether by miners seeking additional ore or children scavenging nearby—the structural integrity of the mine is compromised, leading to collapses that often trap or kill those underground.
2. Water inundation. Abandoned mines frequently accumulate water under high pressure. When active tunnels breach these water-filled shafts, sudden flooding occurs, overwhelming miners with little or no chance of escape due to the depth of the shafts and the ensuing confusion. Survival in such cases is minimal, as visibility and mobility underground are severely restricted.
3. Mechanical failures. Accidents also result from equipment malfunctions, particularly the snapping of steel cables used to lower or raise buckets of ore. Buckets carrying heavy loads may fall back into the pit, crushing miners, while cable failures during descent frequently cause severe injuries or fatalities.

The recovery of victims varies depending on the cause of the accident. Where flooding is involved, bodies can often be retrieved after pumping out water. In contrast, collapses that bury victims make recovery exceedingly difficult without the use of excavators, which require significant financial resources. In such circumstances, families often resort to conducting funeral rites at the site without retrieving the body.

Despite the high incidence of accidents, artisanal mining persists as an economic necessity. Temporary halts in mining following fatalities are typically symbolic gestures of respect rather than reconsiderations of the risks involved. Mining, in many cases, has served as a pathway out of poverty. For instance, women have been reported to earn as much as ₦130,000 within two days, while daring young men occasionally secure windfalls amounting to millions of naira. Consequently, a common refrain among Plateau residents underscores the indispensability of mining: “What would have become of us if there were no minerals in Plateau State

Plateau the Mecca of Solid Minerals

Solid Mineral Collection

If you have never heard, Plateau State is a theatre of sorts, boasting of diversity in a couple of areas that stretch from tribes, vegetables and mineral deposits. It is the Mecca of solid minerals and, potentially, oil and gas close to its border with Taraba State. Thus, Plateau is a colourful theatre of mineral wealth.  

Before the last twenty years, Plateau has been known largely for tin and columbite, leading to its epithet of the Tin City. While tin mining lasted, other minerals drew no attention, since they had no economic value. However, with increased research and innovations, the economic significance of these minerals has soared, especially with the rise of monsters of technology like China. The need for wind turbines, electric vehicles, solar panels, medical devices, lights, lasers, satellites, fibre optics, batteries, better telescopes, as well as mobile phones, computers, etc, has been the impetus propelling the commercial values of the other minerals to the clouds. Thus, the breadth of the minerals that Plateau State can supply to the world has widened significantly. A large chunk of these minerals embraces cassiterite, columbite, pumice, garnet, rutile, wolframite, galena, sphalerite, fluorite, feldspar, aquamarine, mica, ilmenite, sapphire, quartz, amethyst, lithium, zircon, beryl, monazite, granite, etc.

Now, here is the ugly side of the Plateau story: it is one state with modest subventions, a situation that frightens anyone who knows what Plateau’s subterranean resources are. Just as oil-producing states get 13% derivation for oil taken from their land every month, solid mineral-producing states are also entitled to 13% derivation for any mineral taken from their lands. By comparison, 13% derivation to solid mineral states is trivial and changes nothing, ensuring that the economic plights of the affected states remain what it has always been. Take the Plateau-approved budget of N294 billion for 2024, translating to an average of N24 billion per month. This is inclusive of 13% derivation. It is miserable compared to what goes into the coffers of a small, albeit oil-producing state like Bayelsa, whose budget for the year 2024 stands at N489 billion, translating to an average of N40 billion per month.  

The huge gap between oil-producing states and solid mineral-producing states comes from the little attention the Federal Government has paid to solid minerals since the discovery of oil. The oil industry is so organized that only huge corporations like Shell, Mobil and Chevron carry out explorations, drilling and production. It makes transparency easy since the Federal Government is a partner in all these corporations and knows exactly the “country” share of the profits. In the solid mineral industry, though, this organization is absent. Companies simply pay for leases and get down to mining, paying paltry royalties to locals and taxes to the Federal Government. Whatever remains belongs to the company. What makes matters even hazier is the inability of the Federal Government to properly police the industry to prevent illegal mining, a category that falls below the tax radar. Thus, while the minerals are going, all tiers of government, including the Federal Government are getting robbed. This absence of transparency ensures that the 13% derivation paid doesn’t reflect the degree of mining activities taking place in the states.

In 2023, the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, was quoted as saying that the solid mineral industry can contribute 50% of Nigeria’s GDP. Though third parties estimate that the value of Nigeria’s solid minerals reservoir stands at $750 billion, Mr Alake believes that this is conservative and with deeper investigation, it should run into trillions of dollars. Thus, proper organization of the industry will ensure that states with solid mineral wealth, including Plateau, begin to have enough revenue to deal with the economic challenges they face.

 

Why the Christian-Muslim Ticket Doesn’t Work in Plateau State

The Muslim-Muslim Ticket of Tinubu and Shettima

Nigerian is a nation where politics flows along religious and tribal canals. The sitting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is a Muslim and picked a Muslim running mate during his election. This is something that is happening for the first time in the history of the democratic presidency in Nigeria. The issue has generated tons of conversations in favour of and against. The President, however, chose his running mate based on his calculation of how to secure victory.

I saw a video of an Islamic preacher from Kaduna State talking about why Kaffirs (referring to Christians) hate Mallam Nasiru El Rufai. He said that El Rufai is hated by Christians because he refused to take a Christian running mate and still won the election. The Sheik asked why it is expected of Kaduna when that doesn’t happen in Plateau State.

Well, I think he acted in ignorance.  There are three reasons why Muslims are not taken as running mates in Plateau State.

First reason is the fact that politicians work with numbers that will give them victory. In Plateau State, there are about forty tribes, but five stand out as majority. These are Berom, Taroh, Ngas, Mwaghavul, and Gomai. Since, our politics often follow tribal lines, a gubernatorial candidate would want to pick from any of these tribes to ensure victory.

Second reason is the fact that the Muslims consider it distasteful, giving their votes to a non-Muslim. In the decades since the coming of democracy in Nigeria, Plateau Muslims prefer bringing out a Muslim candidate and casting the bulk of their votes to him, despite knowing it wouldn’t be enough to secure victory. So, a gubernatorial candidate wouldn’t want to pick a Muslim running mate since it doesn’t change the opinion of his Muslim brothers. He would prefer picking from any of the five tribes.

The third reason why chances of a Muslim securing the seat of a running mate in Plateau State is difficult is the fact that Plateau people believe that, across this  country, a Plateau man has never been chosen as a running mate (and will never be)  in any of the remaining thirty-five states. So, why should it be different in Plateau State?

The Glow in the Plateau Mindset

When you stay in someone’s backyard, it gives you the space to see corners of him you wouldn’t have seen. On the reverse, when someone’s backyard is far away, he gives you the impression his place is like paradise, where everything is flawless. If you come against it, you must have proof to back it up. So, as long as you have not travelled there, his corrosive lies are fact.

When the Fulani issue started in Plateau State, many of our closest neighbours would beat their chests saying, “they can’t try this in our state.” Unexpectedly, the tide of events moved the conflict to their towns and villages. Their reaction, as a matter of fact, turns out even worst. I have stayed in a number of places outside of Plateau State. Everybody has a shortcoming.

Here on the Plateau, people insult the broad smile and open arms of the host. They would dish out that simmering vitriol like,” What does a Plateau man knows other than to drink gallons of burkutu.” They think that Plateau people are without ambition, just because they are head-over-heels in love with the Civil Service.

But we are not without decency. “Blessed are humble for they shall inherit the earth.” Being modest is not a reflection of ignobility. You will understand that Plateau is not a needy state when it comes to manpower. You will understand that military adventurism runs in the blood of the Plateau people. When in the mainstream of the military, Nigeria remains calm. Outside of it, Nigeria burns. You will agree that Plateau women are the most beautiful outside and within. To embrace people of all shades and hues with a smile is a virtue, in itself.  

There is a story that played up the worth of the Plateau humility. A Plateau man owns a house. He stays in Europe and wants to lodge in the house anytime he returns for a brief holiday. After staying for years without visiting, he saw it expedient to rent the house out. He, however, gave out his terms: “I wouldn’t want any tenant who isn’t a Plateau man or woman.” There you go! So, there is beauty in being a Plateau man, after all. It isn’t that there aren’t other people that make good tenants, but he wants to deal with the good he has always known. The worst a Plateau tenant can do is to fail in the rent payment. When that happens, though, your house will still be yours. It is better than renting the house to someone who turns the house into a den of thieves. He wouldn’t want a tenant who turns the house into a shrine, or someone to claim the house belongs to him, or a tenant who turns the house into a “baby factory.”

We may drink gallons of burkutu, but we like ourselves like that.