FG Eyes 4,000 Plateau Mine Pits for Energy, Tourism After Fatal Collapse

Across Plateau State, the Federal Government has pinpointed over 4,000 disused mine pits as opportunities for investment spanning energy production, tourism, and fishery. This disclosure came from Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake in response to a deadly incident at Kassa, located in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, where seven people perished in the collapse of an unauthorized mining excavation.

Alake explained that government efforts are underway to engage private sector participants in rehabilitating these sites, shifting them away from hazardous conditions toward economically valuable operations. Originally excavated by former mining enterprises during prior decades, numerous pits now represent environmental hazards and pose risks to local populations and unlicensed miners who operate without proper authorization.

The minister cautioned both informal and artisanal miners not to access disused pits unless they possess mandated approvals and documentation. He characterized the Kassa disaster as preventable and urged underground mining participants to regularize their work within established legal frameworks.

This rehabilitation push seeks to tackle the environmental consequences of historical mining activity across Plateau while reducing perils from uncontrolled extraction operations. Through public-private partnerships, Alake's ministry intends to channel these abandoned excavations into development of renewable energy facilities, hospitality infrastructure, and aquaculture enterprises.