The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has warned illegal miners against entering abandoned mining pits without the necessary licences, describing the practice as a serious threat to lives and livelihoods.
Alake gave the warning following the death of seven people in the collapse of an abandoned mine pit at Kassa in the Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The Minister disclosed that Plateau State has more than 4,000 abandoned mining pits, many of which pose significant safety and environmental risks if left unattended.
In a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Assistant on Media, Lara Owoeye-Wise, Alake said the tragedy in Kassa could have been prevented if the miners involved had formed a cooperative and obtained the appropriate permit before commencing operations.
According to him, obtaining a permit would not only have ensured that the miners operated within the law but would also have made them eligible for field training through the ministry’s artisanal mining department.
He said such training would equip artisanal miners with safer and more productive mining practices while helping them establish a more sustainable source of income.
Reacting to the incident, Alake urged artisanal miners across the country to take the deaths as a serious warning and avoid putting their lives at risk by illegally entering abandoned mine sites.
He commiserated with the government and people of Plateau State over the loss of lives and prayed for the repose of the deceased.
“The challenge before the state and the Federal Government is how to turn these potential pits of death into centres of joyful prosperity,” the Minister said.
Alake also called on investors to partner with the government to transform abandoned mining sites into economically productive assets.
He said the Federal Government was open to investment proposals aimed at repurposing abandoned pits for projects in areas such as energy, tourism and fisheries.
The Minister explained that collaboration with the private sector remains one of the fastest and most effective ways to convert abandoned mining sites into productive ventures.
He disclosed that the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development had so far rehabilitated 59 abandoned mining pits as part of efforts to address the dangers posed by legacy mining sites.
According to him, the ministry is also implementing a strategic initiative to identify and assess abandoned mining pits through advanced Geographic Information System (GIS) satellite mapping and Artificial Intelligence.
The initiative is being carried out through a public-private partnership with ImPPPact Nigeria Alliance, in collaboration with geomatics specialist Intomatics, with Plateau State serving as the pilot location.
Alake said the technology would help the government accurately locate and characterise the thousands of legacy tin-mining pits across the state while developing appropriate workflows for their reclamation and eventual productive use.
He encouraged interested investors to direct enquiries to the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office and the Ministry’s Mines and Environmental Compliance Department.
He also advised prospective investors to explore the funding opportunities available through the Solid Minerals Development Fund.
On preventing the recurrence of abandoned mine pits, Alake said he had initiated the establishment of the Environmental Protection and Rehabilitation Fund by activating an existing constitutional provision.
“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 stressed that the government’s objective is not only to prevent further loss of lives but also to transform abandoned mining sites into productive assets capable of creating jobs, attracting investment and contributing to economic development.
