Oyo State Government to Establish Taskforce to Combat Illegal Mining

The Oyo State Government is set to establish a taskforce to combat illegal mining, which has become prevalent in parts of the state, particularly in the Olorunsogo, Irepo, and Orire local government areas. The proposed taskforce will also be responsible for protecting other mineral resources across the state.

Mr. Abiodun Oni, Director General of the Solid Mineral Development Agency, announced this initiative while speaking with journalists after a stakeholders meeting with the Oyo State Deputy Governor, Barrister Bayo Lawal, at the Agodi Secretariat in Ibadan.

Mr. Oni explained that the taskforce, comprising security personnel from both federal agencies and the state, will develop a template within two weeks. This template will be submitted to the Governor for approval to secure the state’s mineral resources for the benefit of its residents.

The DG assured Oyo State residents that the government is committed to ending illegal mining, emphasizing that the days of unauthorized extraction of mineral resources are over.

The taskforce on illegal mining will be chaired by Mr. Abiodun Oni, the Director General of the Oyo State Solid Mineral Development Agency.

The meeting, chaired by Barrister Abdulraheem Adebayo Lawal, Deputy Governor of Oyo State, included several key officials: Abiodun Oni, DG of the Oyo State Solid Mineral Development Agency; ACG Barrister Segun Adegoke, Special Adviser to the governor on Migration and Homeland Security; Col. Olayinka Olayanju (Retd.); Col. James Ajibola (Retd.), Commander of Amotekun; and the DG of Operation Burst. Also in attendance were Engr. E.O Ajayi, Assistant Director of the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals; CP Kareem, Conservator of the Old Oyo National Park; other state government officials; and the chairmen of Olorunsogo, Orire, and Irepo local government areas.