The Federal Government has identified more than 4,000 abandoned mine pits across Plateau State as potential sites for investments in energy, tourism and fisheries.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, disclosed this while reacting to the recent collapse of an abandoned tin mine pit in Kassa, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, which claimed the lives of seven people.
Alake said the government was seeking private investors to partner with it in transforming abandoned mine pits from dangerous environmental hazards into productive economic assets.
According to him, the thousands of abandoned pits were created during decades of mining activities by Amalgamated Tin Mines Limited and its successor companies, Consolidated Tin Mines Limited and Nigerian Tin and Allied Products Limited.
> “The challenge before the state and the Federal Government is how to turn these potential pits of death into centres of joyful prosperity. There are over 4,000 mine pits dug by the mining conglomerate Amalgamated Tin Mines Limited and its successor companies—Consolidated Tin Mines Limited and Nigerian Tin and Allied Products Limited,” Alake said.
He said the sites could be repurposed for productive ventures rather than remaining dangerous reminders of the state’s mining history.
“The government welcomes investors interested in repurposing these pits for energy, tourism and fishery projects,” the minister said.
Alake also warned illegal miners against entering abandoned mine sites without the necessary licences and permits, stressing that the Kassa tragedy could have been avoided if the miners had operated through a cooperative and obtained the required approvals.
He said licensed artisanal miners would have access to training through the ministry’s Artisanal Mining Department, as well as opportunities to develop safer and more sustainable sources of income.
The minister commiserated with the Plateau State Government and the families of those who lost their lives in the incident, urging artisanal miners across the country to learn from the tragedy.
Alake disclosed that the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development had already rehabilitated 59 abandoned mine pits, while technology was being deployed to identify, assess and develop rehabilitation plans for thousands of other legacy mining sites.
He said the ministry had commenced a strategic initiative involving advanced Geographic Information System satellite mapping and Artificial Intelligence through a public-private partnership with ImPPPact Nigeria Alliance and geomatics specialist, Intomatics.
According to him, Plateau State was selected as the pilot beneficiary of the initiative. The project is expected to help accurately locate and characterise abandoned mine pits and develop practical rehabilitation plans for the sites.
The minister urged interested investors to contact the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office and the ministry’s Mines and Environmental Compliance Department to obtain information on available investment opportunities.
He also encouraged investors to explore financing opportunities through the Solid Minerals Development Fund.
Beyond rehabilitating existing abandoned mine sites, Alake said the Federal Government was taking steps to ensure that mining companies do not leave similar environmental hazards behind when their operations end.
He said he had activated the Environmental Protection and Rehabilitation Fund, which had previously existed largely as a constitutional provision without effective implementation.
“Very soon, we shall conclude discussions with the fund managers. Thenceforth, mining companies must pay into the Fund so that it can rehabilitate mine pits if the companies don’t do so during closure,” he said.
The development comes amid renewed efforts by the Federal Government to sanitise Nigeria’s mining sector, curb illegal and unsafe mining activities, and attract investment into the country’s mineral resources.
The Kassa mine-pit collapse has also heightened concerns over the dangers posed by abandoned mining sites in Plateau State, particularly in communities where unlicensed miners continue to enter old pits in search of residual minerals.