The Federal Government has identified more than 4,000 abandoned mining pits in Plateau State, raising concerns over the dangers they pose to artisanal miners and surrounding communities.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Assistant on Media, Lara Owoeye-Wise, following the death of seven people in the collapse of an abandoned mine pit in Kassa, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of the state.

Alake warned illegal miners against extracting minerals from abandoned mining sites without obtaining the necessary licences and permits, describing the practice as dangerous and avoidable.

He urged artisanal miners to form cooperatives and obtain the required permits, noting that licensed miners would have access to field training provided by the ministry’s Artisanal Mining Department, as well as opportunities for more sustainable income.

The minister said the recent collapse of the abandoned tin mine pit, which claimed seven lives, could have been prevented if the miners had operated within the legal framework.

He called on artisanal miners across the country to learn from the incident and desist from entering abandoned pits without proper assessment and authorisation.

Alake commiserated with the government and people of Plateau State over the deaths, praying for the repose of the victims.
According to him, the large number of abandoned mining pits in Plateau presents both a major environmental challenge and an opportunity for economic development.

“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.

The minister called on investors to partner with the government to repurpose abandoned mining sites for productive ventures, including energy, tourism and fishery projects.

He disclosed that the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development had so far rehabilitated 59 abandoned mining pits, adding that greater collaboration with the private sector remained critical to accelerating the conversion of abandoned mine sites into productive assets.

“Collaborating with the private sector is the most proactive and fastest approach to turning dead assets into productive use,” Alake said.

To support the rehabilitation process, the minister said the ministry had commenced a strategic initiative involving advanced Geographic Information System satellite mapping and Artificial Intelligence.

According to him, the initiative is being implemented through a public-private partnership with ImPPPact Nigeria Alliance and geomatics specialist, Intomatics, with Plateau State serving as the pilot beneficiary.

He said the technology would help the government accurately locate and characterise the thousands of legacy tin pits in the state while developing workflows for their reclamation.

Alake also urged investors interested in repurposing the abandoned mining sites to direct their enquiries to the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office and the ministry’s Mines and Environmental Compliance Department.

He further encouraged investors to explore the Solid Minerals Development Fund’s funding programme to support viable projects aimed at rehabilitating and repurposing abandoned mining sites.

The minister said the Federal Government was also taking steps to prevent the emergence of new abandoned mining pits through the establishment of an Environmental Protection and Rehabilitation Fund.

According to him, the initiative was created by activating an existing constitutional provision requiring mining operators to take responsibility for environmental rehabilitation.

“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,” he said.

The minister maintained that the government’s approach was aimed at ensuring that mining activities contribute to economic development while reducing the environmental and safety risks associated with abandoned mining sites.