The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has called for collaboration among agencies and other stakeholders to reclaim abandoned mining sites in Plateau State.

The reclamation is an initiative of the Geographic Information System (GIS) database project in the area.

A statement yesterday in Abuja by the ministry’s Deputy Director of Press, Kania Maliki Andeyaba, said the minister spoke while hosting the Managing Director of ImPPPact Nigeria Alliance, Mr. Olushola Ajayi.

Represented by the ministry’s Director of Human Resources, Dr. Ijeoma Idika, the minister acknowledged ImPPPact Nigeria Alliance as a key partner in the effort to reposition the mining sector.

Alake, who expressed confidence in the project’s success, urged the company to also consider technical advice from the ministry, apart from the collaboration with other stakeholders.

Ajayi said the project was part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the ministry and his company in 2023 and that Plateau State was the first beneficiary of the reclamation initiative.

The company chief harped on the importance of GIS data as a critical tool for providing accurate spatial and environmental information necessary for effective planning and execution of reclamation efforts.

He noted that there is currently no available one in the area.

Ajayi said the data would assist in site identification, environmental assessment, and land-use planning.

He said: “The project is in two phases. The first phase involves data collation for the GIS database of abandoned pits.

“This data will help us identify and characterise abandoned mining sites. Without a good understanding of their composition and condition, rehabilitation becomes very difficult.”