The Nigerian Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has cautioned illegal miners against extracting minerals from abandoned mining pits without obtaining the required licences.
Alake issued the warning following the collapse of an abandoned tin mine at Kassa in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, where seven miners reportedly died on Wednesday.
In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Lara Owoeye, the minister said the incident could have been prevented if the miners had formed a cooperative and obtained the necessary permits.
He explained that licensed miners would also have access to technical training provided by the ministry’s Artisanal Mining Department, as well as opportunities to earn sustainable incomes.
Alake commiserated with the Plateau State Government and the families of the victims, urging artisanal miners across the country to take lessons from the tragedy.
He said the government faced the challenge of transforming abandoned mining pits from dangerous sites into productive assets that could support economic development.
According to the minister, more than 4,000 abandoned pits were created by Amalgamated Tin Mines Ltd. and its successor companies, Consolidated Tin Mines Ltd. and Nigerian Tin and Allied Products Ltd.
He called on private investors to partner with the government to convert the abandoned sites into viable projects in areas such as renewable energy, tourism and aquaculture.
Alake said the ministry had already rehabilitated 59 abandoned mine pits as part of efforts to address the dangers posed by legacy mining sites.
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He added that the government had introduced advanced Geographic Information System satellite mapping and Artificial Intelligence to identify and assess abandoned tin pits.
The initiative, being implemented through a public-private partnership involving ImPPPact Nigeria Alliance and geomatics specialist Intomatics, is currently being piloted in Plateau State.
Alake said the programme would help develop strategies for reclaiming the thousands of abandoned mining pits across the state.
He also urged prospective investors to approach the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office and the ministry’s Mines and Environmental Compliance Department for information on investment opportunities.
The minister encouraged investors to explore funding available through the Solid Minerals Development Fund.
To prevent future mine sites from being abandoned, Alake said he had initiated the Environmental Protection and Rehabilitation Fund, which would require mining companies to contribute towards the rehabilitation of sites after operations end.
He said discussions with fund managers were nearing completion and that mining companies would soon be required to make contributions to the scheme.
