Dr. Oladele Alake, the Minister in charge of Solid Minerals Development, has urged manufacturers of mine explosives to address the reported incidents of leakage from their factories. He emphasized the importance of enhancing the security and logistics of their operations in order to effectively tackle this issue. During a spontaneous gathering in his office in Abuja, Alake voiced his concerns regarding the manufacturers’ involvement in allowing unauthorized individuals to access explosives and their careless storage practices throughout the nation.
The public’s discontent with this situation was evident, as Alake discussed at an urgent meeting with the manufacturers on Friday. In a statement released by Segun Tomori, the Minister’s Special Assistant (Media), it was highlighted that the government is currently examining the process of monitoring the flow of explosives from manufacturers to end-users. To tackle the issue of illegal sales or manufacturing of explosives, the Minister appealed to the authorities to focus internally and identify employees who may be involved in such activities.
Implementation of state-of-the-art security measures.
Solar Nigachem Limited, Intrachem Limited, and Dynatrac Limited were all present at the meeting, with representatives from each of the three licensed manufacturers of explosives in attendance. Biodun Abu, the Chief Executive Officer of Intrachem Limited and the chairman of the Association of Commercial Explosives Dealers, vividly elucidated that the manufacturers have scrupulously adhered to governmental regulations regarding the safeguarding of their operations. This entailed the implementation of state-of-the-art security measures, encompassing the installation of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) systems within their factories.
Furthermore, they have ingeniously devised a unique coding system for their explosives, thereby facilitating seamless tracking capabilities for both the manufacturer and the respective ordering entity. Furthermore, Abu highlighted the ongoing challenge faced by manufacturers and their clients as they seek approvals for escorts to oversee the transportation of their goods to their ultimate consumers. However, once the goods reach the clients, there remains an inability to effectively verify if any incidents of potential leakage have occurred.
Explosives produced within Nigeria were in the form of slurry.
Imam Ganiyu, the Director of the Mines Inspectorate Department in the Ministry of Solid Minerals, kicked off the presentation by introducing the manufacturers. A significant point highlighted by Imam Ganiyu was that the explosives produced within Nigeria were in the form of slurry, requiring the use of detonators to trigger their explosion. In 2007, Nigeria implemented a ban on the utilization of dynamite for mining activities. However, it has been noticed that neighbouring countries like Cameroon and Mali continue to employ these explosive materials.
This poses a significant concern as there is a possibility that these explosives could unlawfully make their way into Nigeria through the borders. Maureen Tiamiyu, A.Muibi, and Hegen Ali from Solar Nigachem Limited were among the attendees at the meeting. The participants also included Chidi Opara and Ohio Musa from Dynatrac Limited, Engr Babajide Alatise from Tuntise Investment Limited, Engineer Yomi Aluko from Intrachem Limited, and Kehinde Bamigbetan, who serves as the Special Adviser to the Minister.
Related Article: 10,000 IED/mine casualties since 2016
Intrachem, founded in 1988, stands as Nigeria’s foremost provider of commercial explosives, initiating systems, and associated accessories that cater to various industries like mining, quarrying, seismic activities, and construction. The company takes pride in being the premier manufacturer and supplier in Nigeria, offering top-tier products to fulfill the explosive and initiating system needs of the market. Intrachem is committed to supplying cutting-edge blasting solutions and related services of the utmost excellence, while always prioritizing the unique needs and preferences of its valued customers. Its unwavering dedication to this mission is underpinned by a team of skilled and extensively knowledgeable individuals who are both trusted and empowered to enhance the overall experience for its esteemed clientele.
Related Link
Wikipedia: Website
