Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake has warned illegal miners against risking their lives in abandoned mine pits following the death of seven persons in Kassa, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The victims died when an abandoned tin mine pit collapsed at an unlicensed mining site in the area.
Alake, who described the incident as tragic and avoidable, said the miners could have escaped the danger by forming a cooperative and obtaining the necessary permit to operate legally.
According to him, licensed artisanal miners would also benefit from field training provided by the ministry and have access to more sustainable sources of income.
The minister commiserated with the Plateau State Government and the families of the victims, urging artisanal miners nationwide to learn from the tragedy.
Alake said the Federal Government was determined to transform abandoned mine pits from “potential pits of death” into centres of economic prosperity.
He disclosed that more than 4,000 legacy mine pits were created by Amalgamated Tin Mines Limited and its successor companies, Consolidated Tin Mines Limited and Nigerian Tin and Allied Products Limited.
He said the government was willing to partner with investors to convert the abandoned sites into viable energy, tourism and fishery projects.
According to him, the ministry has so far rehabilitated 59 abandoned mine pits, while a new initiative is being deployed to tackle the thousands of legacy pits across Plateau State.
The initiative, being implemented through a public-private partnership with ImPPPact Nigeria Alliance and geomatics specialist Intomatics, will deploy GIS satellite mapping and Artificial Intelligence to locate, assess and develop rehabilitation plans for the abandoned pits.
Alake urged interested investors to approach the Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office and the ministry’s Mines and Environmental Compliance Department, as well as explore funding opportunities through the Solid Minerals Development Fund.
He also disclosed that the ministry had activated the Environmental Protection and Rehabilitation Fund to ensure that mining companies take responsibility for rehabilitating mine sites after operations.
“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 Sun)