Atiku made the donation on Tuesday during a visit to Minna, where he also paid a condolence visit to the Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umar Bahago.
The miners died on September 17, days after they were arrested during NSCDC operations against suspected illegal mining in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of the state.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths are still being investigated.
The Federal Government has set up a 10-member independent investigative committee to determine the immediate and remote causes of the deaths. Twenty NSCDC officers, including the Niger State Commandant, have also been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.
The Niger State Government has separately inaugurated a nine-member judicial commission of inquiry to examine the incident and determine issues of responsibility and accountability.
During his meeting with the affected families and survivors, Atiku called for accountability and said the deaths highlighted concerns about the treatment of detainees in government custody.
“No Nigerian should ever be subjected to such indignity in the custody of his own government. These were human beings in the care of the state. Whatever accusations may have been made against them, they were entitled to their lives, their dignity and the protection of the law,” he added.
The former vice president also linked the incident to broader economic pressures that push young Nigerians into hazardous and poorly regulated occupations.
He argued that government policies should address poverty, unemployment and the rising cost of living while creating opportunities for young Nigerians to pursue safer livelihoods.
Atiku also reiterated his proposal for a targeted production subsidy for petroleum products refined in Nigeria, saying it would support domestic refining and reduce petrol prices.
The proposal has been criticised by the All Progressives Congress, which has questioned its legal, fiscal and operational framework, including its compatibility with the Petroleum Industry Act.
The former vice president maintained that his proposal differed from the previous open-ended subsidy regime on imported fuel and would focus government support on locally refined petroleum products.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier ordered a full investigation into the deaths. At the same time, the Federal Ministry of Interior said the committee would establish responsibility, negligence or misconduct and recommend appropriate action.
Survivors have alleged overcrowding and poor conditions at the detention facility, but the cause of the deaths has yet to be conclusively established. Medical examinations and the ongoing investigations are expected to determine what led to the fatalities.
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