The Director-General of the Oyo State Solid Mineral Development Agency, Mr Abiodun Oni, has warned that the state government will continue to be strict against illegal miners and individuals putting the lives of residents at risk through activities that degrade the environment.
Oni stated when the agency inspected the Ibadan Circular Road, where illegal excavation had led to the degradation of the area spanning Egbeda and Lagelu local government areas.
He said the inspection followed an earlier visit by Governor Seyi Makinde, during which he instructed that such activities should be halted in the area, noting that although the warning had been obeyed but the state would not relent in protecting the environment.
Oni lamented that the state government would have to spend huge resources, which could be channeled to the development of the state, on fixing the environmental damage caused by the unguided excavation activities.
He reminded that the Executive Order on the Security and Protection of Mining Communities was still in force, pledging that the state government would leave no stone unturned towards ensuring its enforcement despite mining falling under the Exclusive Legislative List.
“If they continue to do this, we have to take action. Though the law of the land as regards mining rests with the Federal Government, we have our own laws that give us the room to act one way or the other,” Oni said.
He added, “The Executive Order that the governor signed in 2023 takes care of some of those consequential responses and we will put them into action. We have to get hold of these guys and enforce the law.”
In another development, the OSMDA DG and his team visited Igbeti in Olorunsogo local government area of the state, where they inspected the site of the recent rock weathering, which initially caused a stir before the government explained the cause of the incident.
Oni reiterated the state government’s position that there is no cause for alarm, noting, however, that residents should not carry out activities near the rock until they were informed of safety.
He stressed that the state government is on top of the situation, as it has been coordinating the local authorities including local government and traditional institution on necessary actions.
“From what we have seen, the rock was subjected to extreme heat and made a weak part of the rock come down. To the glory of God, we don’t have any casualty and this is one of the reasons why the governor sent us here to calm nerves down,” Oni said.
He added that the government had reassured the people that there was no danger, but they should steer clear of the rock. “This is because there may be a recurrence.”
“As I said, it is still more like an active system and we don’t want anybody to get hurt. So, I want to implore the people of the community and the farmers farming close to the rock to stay away for now,” he said.
The Vice Chairman of Olorunsogo LGA, who spoke on behalf of the chairman, Hon. Kazeem Olayanju, said the council had taken several actions, including working with the traditional institution to disseminate information to residents on the incident and the need to stay away from the rock.
He added that the government was also working to erect a barricade to prevent people from the axis.
Similarly, the Onigbeti of Igbetiland, Oba (Engr) Bashir Abioye, lauded the Oyo State Government for taking necessary steps to prevent the loss of lives, adding that he had also tasked a team of experts to evaluate the situation.
“This incident also occurred last year and the one that just happened was the continuation of what happened last year. The government of Oyo State has taken the necessary steps to make sure that no life is lost,” Oba Abioye said.
The royal father said hunters and farmers that use the rock have also been told to temporarily stop their activities around the rock.
