Over 4,000 abandoned mine pits in Plateau – Alake

Dele Alake, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, revealed that over 4,000 abandoned mine pits exist across Plateau State. Many of these pits were created by former mining companies, presenting significant environmental and safety concerns. However, Alake emphasized that these abandoned pits could be transformed into productive ventures through proper rehabilitation.

This statement came after a tragic incident in which seven people were killed in a collapsed mine pit at Kassa, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area. Alake warned artisanal miners against entering these pits without the proper licenses and permits, stressing that the incident was both avoidable and tragic. He urged miners to form cooperatives and obtain necessary approvals to operate legally.

Alake explained that the large number of abandoned pits in Plateau is a result of the activities of Amalgamated Tin Mines Limited, Consolidated Tin Mines Limited, and Nigerian Tin and Allied Products Limited. The Federal Government has already rehabilitated 59 abandoned mine pits, while introducing technology-driven measures like GIS satellite mapping and Artificial Intelligence to locate and assess thousands of others.

Alake announced a public-private partnership to deploy these technologies in Plateau, which will serve as a pilot for the nationwide initiative. He also called on private investors to collaborate with the government to convert abandoned mine sites into productive ventures, such as energy, tourism, and fisheries projects. Alake viewed public-private partnerships as the most efficient approach to converting these potential pits of death into centers of prosperity.