The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has warned illegal miners against risking their lives by operating in abandoned mine pits without licences, following the death of seven persons in a collapsed pit in Kassa, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Minister Condemns Avoidable Loss of Life
Alake described the incident as a tragic and avoidable loss, urging artisanal miners across the country to form cooperatives and obtain the necessary permits before engaging in mining activities. In a statement on Sunday, he said obtaining a permit would enable artisanal miners to access field training provided by the ministry's Artisanal Mining Department while ensuring safer and more sustainable mining operations.
Reacting to the collapse of the abandoned tin mine pit, Alake commiserated with the Plateau State Government, the people of the state, and the families of the deceased, praying for the repose of the victims. He urged artisanal miners nationwide to learn from the incident and desist from illegal mining activities that expose them to unnecessary risks.
Turning Death Traps into Economic Assets
According to him, the immediate challenge before the Federal and Plateau State governments was to transform abandoned mine pits from dangerous sites into productive economic assets. “The challenge before the state and the Federal Government is how to turn these potential pits of death into centres of joyful prosperity,” he said.
Alake disclosed that Plateau State has more than 4,000 abandoned mine pits created by Amalgamated Tin Mines Limited and its successor companies, Consolidated Tin Mines Limited and Nigerian Tin and Allied Products Limited. He said the Federal Government was open to partnerships with investors interested in converting the abandoned pits into viable projects in areas such as energy, tourism, and fisheries.
Government Rehabilitation Efforts and Technological Initiative
The Minister explained that collaboration with the private sector remained one of the fastest ways of transforming abandoned mining sites into productive assets. He disclosed that the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development had so far rehabilitated 59 abandoned mine pits.
To further address the risks associated with abandoned mining sites, Alake said the ministry had commenced a strategic initiative to deploy Geographic Information System (GIS) satellite mapping and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to identify and accurately characterise legacy tin pits across Plateau State. He said the initiative was being implemented through a public-private partnership with ImPPPact Nigeria Alliance and geomatics specialist, Intomatics, with Plateau State serving as the pilot beneficiary.
According to him, the initiative is expected to provide accurate data on the location and condition of the thousands of abandoned pits and support the development of practical reclamation plans.
Investor Engagement and Future Prevention
Alake called on potential investors interested in repurposing the abandoned mine pits to approach the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office and the ministry's Mines and Environmental Compliance Department for further information. He also encouraged investors to explore funding opportunities available through the Solid Minerals Development Fund.
The Minister further disclosed that the ministry was taking steps to prevent the recurrence of abandoned mine pits through the establishment of the Environmental Protection and Rehabilitation Fund. He said the initiative was designed to ensure that mining companies contribute financially towards the rehabilitation of mining sites, particularly where operators fail to undertake proper reclamation at the end of mining activities.
“Very soon, we shall conclude discussions with the fund managers. Thenceforth, mining companies must pay to the Fund so that it can rehabilitate mine pits if the companies don't do so during closure,” Alake said.
He stressed that the government remained committed to promoting responsible mining while protecting lives, the environment, and the long-term economic value of Nigeria's mineral resources.
