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Following the recent mining pit collapse that claimed seven lives in Kassa community, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, the Federal Government has announced plans to convert more than 4,000 abandoned mine pits in the state into productive economic assets.
The plan will focus on reclaiming the abandoned pits and using them for projects in energy, tourism and fisheries. The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, said the Kassa tragedy had shown the urgent need to address the dangers posed by abandoned mine sites.
Alake said more than 4,000 mine pits were created by Amalgamated Tin Mines Limited and its successor companies.
“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 said the Federal Government was ready to work with investors to transform the abandoned sites into productive assets.
He disclosed that the ministry had already rehabilitated 59 abandoned mine pits as part of efforts to address the problem.
Alake also said the ministry had started using Geographic Information System, GIS, satellite mapping and Artificial Intelligence, AI, to identify and assess the abandoned pits.
He said the initiative is being implemented through a public-private partnership with the ImPPPact Nigeria Alliance and geomatics specialist, Intomatics, with Plateau State serving as the pilot beneficiary.
According to him, the technology would help the government and its partners develop proper plans to reclaim the thousands of abandoned pits and put them to productive use.
The Minister also warned artisanal miners against illegally working in abandoned mine pits.
He said the Kassa tragedy could have been avoided if the miners had formed a cooperative and obtained the required permits before operating at the site.
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