News Investigators/ ImPPPact Nigeria Alliance has announced the initiation of a Geographic Information System (GIS) database project aimed at reclaiming abandoned mining sites in Plateau State.
The Managing Director, Olushola Ajayi, disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, on Monday in Abuja.
Mr. Ajayi explained that the project was part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the ministry in 2023, with Plateau as the first beneficiary of the reclamation initiative.
Mr. Ajayi revealed that there was currently no available GIS data, which he described as critical for providing accurate spatial and environmental information necessary for effective planning and execution of reclamation efforts.
He added that the data would assist in site identification, environmental assessment, and land-use planning.
“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,” he explained.
Mr. Ajayi also mentioned that the project would involve professionals working with Intomatics, a Germany-based company specialising in geomatic services.
“The company is using satellite imagery techniques to gather data, which will be compared with on-the-ground realities in Plateau.
“A team of experts, government officials, and local communities will collaborate to ensure accurate data collection,”he said.
He added that the collected information would be presented to the mining cadastre for future reference, with the goal of attracting major investors to the sector.
“The second phase of the project will focus on reclaiming the abandoned mining sites and repurposing them for solar energy generation, establishing Plateau as a hub for renewable energy.”
He said that the sites could later be considered for agriculture, tourism, or other economic activities based on their suitability.
Director of Geospatial Data at Intomatics, Andreas Kahnen, further explained that the GIS data generated in Plateau would be processed using artificial intelligence programmes.
These programmes, he said, would extract specific information from the satellite images.
He added that this would help create a stable workflow for the reclamation process.
In his remarks, Mr. Alake, who was represented by the acting Permanent Secretary and Director of Human Resources, Ijeoma Idika, commended ImPPPact Nigeria Alliance as a key partner in the effort to reposition the mining sector.
Mr. Alake expressed confidence in the project’s success and encouraged collaboration with state officials and relevant agencies while considering technical advice from the ministry. (NAN)