Stakeholders Brainstorm As Oyo Mineral Dev. Agency Seeks Sustainable Way To End Illegal Mining

As part of ongoing efforts to tackle the pervasive issue of illegal mining in Oyo State, the Oyo State Mineral Development Agency on Monday (today) convened a high-profile stakeholder meeting comprising of traditional rulers and security agencies to explores sustainable ways of putting an end to the menace in the state.

According to ‘Okunrin Jeje’ Abiodun Oni, the Director-General of Oyo State Mineral Development Agency and Chairman of Pacesetter Mineral Development Company (PMDC), the stakeholders meeting aimed at exploring sustainable solutions to curb the detrimental practice.

The meeting, held at the House of Chiefs, Oyo State Parliamentary Complex, Secretariat, Ibadan on July 22 also brought together key stakeholders from government agencies, mining companies, environmental groups, and local communities affected by mining activities.

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During the interactive sessions, stakeholders deliberated on various strategies to combat illegal mining effectively in line with the vision of the Seyi Makinde led administration.

Recall that the state government had in a bid to tackle the growing issue of insecurity arising from illegal mining activities, established a task force dedicated to monitoring and halting unauthorised mining activities across the 33 local government areas of the state, maintaining that the move would help drive Governor Seyi Makinde’s determination to secure mining communities from insecurity and exploitation.

Furthermore, the Governor consequently issued an Executive Order on Protection of Mining Communities against Insecurity and Exploitation.

Despite all the efforts made by the state government to curb illegal mining activities, the menace has reportedly persisted unabated leading to the convergence of critical stakeholders in Ibadan to fashion out news ways to end the practice.

Speaking, Oni stressed the need for deliberate action by all stakeholders to end the era of illegal mining in the state stressing the threats such practice portends to the environment and the state in terms of revenue loss and security challenge.

He highlighted adverse effects of illegal mining on the environment, such as land degradation, deforestation, and water pollution, which threaten biodiversity and livelihoods of the people resident around mining areas.

Oni emphasized the agency’s commitment to promoting responsible mining practices while safeguarding the state’s mineral resources as well as providing adequate security for lives and properties of residents of mining communities.

Oni, who was a former Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources in the state emphasized how nonchalance and poor proactive response by community members in the affected area in Bodija, Ibadan, led to the tragic explosion that claimed lives leaving others injured.

Speaking further, he said the implication of lack of cooperation from the affected community created a situation that overwhelmed the state government in terms of human and material resources in trying to arrest the aftermath noting that everyone focused on what governor Seyi Makinde was doing at the time and not the federal government.

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While also highlighting economic implementation of not being able to mine and explore the state’s mineral resources for its socio-economic development, stakeholders suggested that all previous consent letters and approval issued by traditional rulers be cancelled and nullified to create room for a fresh start with robust and process that engenders inclusivity.

“We’re here today as part of stakeholders sensitization and awareness on illegal mining in the state because such practice is not only denying the state of huge revenue loss but also creating security threat to the mining communities such as kidnapping, drugs, and needless killing.

“We also found out that millions of naira are being carted away by these illegal miners thereby denying the state and federal government of the much needed revenue to drive their respective development agenda. That’s why we are here with the traditional rulers and community leaders who are singing the consent letters to those miners in order to sensitize them on the need to involve government at all stages of giving consent for mining activities in their various domains.

“Illegal mining not only undermines legitimate mining operations but also deprives the state of revenue and jeopardizes sustainable development goals while threatening security and safety of affect communities.

“Henceforth, before they sign the consent letters, the state government must be involved in what they’re doing so that even when investors come for mining, everything would have been properly regularized within the legal framework so that the state, federal, and local communities involved can adequately benefit from it.” Oni stated.

According to the Okere of Saki, Oba Khalid Olabisi, who spoke on behalf of traditional rulers in Oke-ogun, he emphasized that the event underpinned the urgency of addressing illegal mining, which poses significant environmental, economic, and social challenges to the state.

Some of the strategic moves suggested by the monarch included stricter enforcement of mining laws and regulations, enhancing monitoring and surveillance mechanisms by security agencies, and promoting community engagement and awareness.

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Other Stakeholders in their submissions lament connivance of some security personnel with illegal miners, citing instances where arrested culprits were handed over the relevant security agency and such persons were unceremoniously freed to the dismay of community members.

While calling for a collective action to enforce compliance with mining regulations, stakeholders acknowledged the socioeconomic factors driving illegal mining and discussed measures to provide viable economic opportunities that discourage illegal activities.

They expressed their commitment to collaborative efforts in implementing sustainable solutions to end illegal mining in Oyo State and assured that traditional rulers would comply with whatever the state government resolves to do in addressing the prevailing situation in the state.

Stakeholders at the end their deliberations agreed to continue working closely with the state government, the agency and other relevant authorities in the state to enforce regulatory frameworks, raise awareness, and promote responsible mining practices in their various domains.

Also present at the event are the Director General of Oyo State Mobilization Agency for Socio-economic Development (OMASED), the Agency’s General Manager; Mrs. Funke Omidiran and top officials of the agency as well as other traditional leaders from different parts of the state.