The Federal Government has inaugurated a High-Level Investigation Committee to probe the Zurak Mine gas poisoning incident in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State, which left at least 37 people dead and more than 20 others hospitalised.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Henry Dele Alake, who formally inaugurated the committee in Abuja on Tuesday, described the incident as “painful” and a wake-up call for stricter enforcement of safety standards in Nigeria’s mining sector.
The inauguration was performed on his behalf by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Engr. Faruk Yusuf Yabo.
The tragedy occurred on February 18, 2026, at a mining site operated by Solid Unit Mining Company Limited in Zurak, Wase LGA. According to preliminary reports, the incident may have resulted from a combination of poor safety compliance, weak regulatory enforcement, and alleged negligence by both the operator and local actors involved in operations at the site.
Dr. Alake stressed that the incident was unusual compared to typical mining accidents such as pit collapses or landslides, insisting that a comprehensive technical investigation was necessary to uncover both immediate and underlying causes.
He announced the immediate suspension of mining operations by Solid Unit Mining Company Limited at ML 11810 and any related sites, pending the outcome of the investigation.
“This is not a punitive measure, but an administrative and safety imperative to safeguard lives and restore confidence,” the minister said.
The committee is mandated to conduct a detailed technical and regulatory review of the incident, including gas emissions, geological conditions, compliance with environmental standards, royalty payments, community relations, and the role of technical operators at the site.
It is also expected to propose reforms to prevent future occurrences and improve safety oversight in the sector.
Members are to submit their report within 21 days.
The minister, while situating the intervention within the Federal Government’s mining sector reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said the administration remains committed to transforming the solid minerals sector into a safe, transparent, and investor-friendly industry.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu has consistently emphasised the need for responsible resource extraction that prioritises the safety and welfare of host communities, the minister noted.
According to Alake, the government has already strengthened regulatory oversight through inspectorate reforms, environmental compliance mechanisms, and the establishment of mines marshals, as part of efforts to improve accountability across the sector.
He warned that no level of economic gain would justify avoidable loss of lives, adding that repeated safety failures could undermine investor confidence in Nigeria’s mining industry.
The committee was also tasked with reviewing community relations, environmental compliance documents, and the practice of partial lease ceding to local actors, while recommending policy safeguards where necessary.
Dr. Alake urged the panel to deliver a credible and actionable report that would serve as a roadmap for safer mining operations nationwide, assuring that the government would fully implement its recommendations.
“Government will not allow this report to gather dust,” he said, adding that decisive action would follow its submission.
He also called on mining operators across the country to deepen engagement with host communities and treat Community Development Agreements as binding social commitments rather than formalities.
The committee is expected to begin work immediately and conclude its assignment within the stipulated three-week timeline.
