Environmental Degradation: Oyo Govt Vows to Enforce Laws Against Illegal Mining

…As Govt reiterates Commitment to Protecting Environment, Communities

The Director-General of the Oyo State Solid Mineral Development Agency, Mr Abiodun Oni, has warned that the state government will continue to be stern against illegal miners and individuals putting the lives of residents at risk through different activities that can degrade the environment.

Oni stated this recently when the agency inspected the Ibadan Circular Road, where illegal excavation has led to the degradation of the area spanning Egbeda and Lagelu Local Government Areas.

He maintained that the inspection followed an earlier visit by the governor, during which he gave an instruction that such activities should be halted in the area, noting that though the warning had been heeded, the state would not relent in ensuring that the environment is protected.

He 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.

According to Oni, the Executive Order on the Security and Protection of Mining Communities is in force in the state and the state government would leave no stone unturned towards ensuring its enforcement despite mining falling under the exclusive legislative list.

He said: “About a few weeks ago, the governor had an inspection around here and discovered the kind of illegal mining activities going on here.

“We found out the kind of environmental degradation happening here. So, we have come today as a follow-up to the inspection he did. We also had a team from the Ministry and Agency that came here a few days ago as well, which met with the people causing the havoc here.

“The team warned those people. So, this is just a follow-up to that visitation. So far, so good, the engagement here is yielding some results, because we have travelled about 8.5 km and we have not seen anybody excavating here.

“I think they are yielding to the warning but this is going to be a continuous exercise, because illegal miners don’t give up. We will continue to make sure we come around here, because we want to put a stop to the illegal activity.
“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. 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.

“Though they have done what they have done, they are not going to continue doing it. We will make sure that they don’t continue to do this excavation. Just look at the land. It is going to cost a lot more to be able to reclaim it.

“So, we are going to keep spending time to let people inspect this place and make sure this act stops.”

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