The government of Oyo State has declared that as these illegal activities have continued unchecked, the time has come to address the threat of illegal mining in the State.
Thank you for visiting The Vestigator, don't forget to share!
The ecosystem has suffered greatly as a result of illicit mining, according to the government, endangering the lives and health of its citizens.
During a stakeholders’ sensitisation and consultative forum held at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, today, Engr. Abiodun Oni, Director General of the Oyo State Mineral Development Agency (OYSMIDA), disclosed this information. He stated that “this administration will no longer tolerate any form of illegal mining in the State and today’s consultative forum will focus on the Executive Order 001/2023, which majors on the protection of mining communities in Oyo State.” Millions are taken out of the state through illegal mining, and neither the state nor the federal governments profit from this practice. Thus, he stated, “it is essential that the government assume accountability and that Kings and Baales participate by signing consent letters.”
The State Government would be active in all community-related activities, including the Community Development Agreement (CDA), stressed Engineer Oni. This guarantees the regularisation of any investor’s activity, which benefits the community, the state, the federal government, and local governments.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Solid Minerals, Hon. Anthony Ogunsola, noted in his well-wishes that many of the present problems stem from the penetration of strangers into communities, which breeds social vices like kidnapping, robbery, killings, and insecurity.
Noting that the communities had benefited from Governor Seyi Makinde’s signature of Executive Order 001/2023, he asked the Kings and Baales to support the government in reducing these concerns. In order to continue reaping the rewards of democracy, Hon. Ogunsola further urged the people of Oyo State to support the current government.
The Commandant of the NSCDC, Oyo State Command, Padonu Augustine, pledged in his message of goodwill that they are dedicated to upholding safe and secure mineralised communities, which will stimulate the economy and provide opportunities for investors.
In order to combat unlawful mining in the State, Mr. Augustine stated that the Commandant General, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has recently taken a proactive stance by training certain corps members as mine marshals in close coordination with the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals.
