Niger State Governor, Umaru Bago, has called for an executive order from the Presidency or the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development to ban mining activities in locations identified as problematic across the state. Bago made the call on Sunday during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme, following the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). He noted that the state government needed stronger intervention from the Federal Government because of the limitations surrounding the enforcement of mining regulations. Source: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/09/20/niger-miners-deaths-gov-bago-seeks-executive-order-to-ban-mining-in-some-areas/