FG offers 4,000 abandoned Plateau mine pits to investors for power, tourism

The Federal Government of Nigeria has identified over 4,000 abandoned mine pits in Plateau State as potential sites for investments in energy, tourism, and fishery, according to Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake. The government is seeking private investors to transform these dangerous sites into productive economic assets, following the collapse of an abandoned tin mine pit in Kassa, which killed seven people.

Alake warned illegal miners against entering abandoned pits without licenses, emphasizing that the tragedy could have been avoided if miners had obtained the necessary permits. The government is offering licensed artisanal miners access to training and a more sustainable source of income. The ministry is using technology, such as Geographic Information System satellite mapping and Artificial Intelligence, to locate and assess the abandoned pits.

Plateau State has been selected as the pilot beneficiary of this initiative. The government is also taking steps to prevent mining companies from leaving hazardous sites after operations and is activating the Environmental Protection and Rehabilitation Fund.