Osogbo – Worried by the spate of activities of illegal miners in the state, Osun Government has raised a committee on mineral resources and environment management, to curb illegal mining activities in the State.
The Committee is headed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Mineral Resources, Honourable Tunde Ajilore, while Federal Mines Officer in the State, Engineer Kabiru Umar, is the Secretary to the Committee.
Other members of the Committee include, Representative of Ministry of lands, Segun Simeon Adeyemo; Representative of the Surveyor General of the State, Sola Abioye; Representative of Ministry of Environment, Abideen Baderinwa and Representative of Federal Ministry of Environment in the state, Abosede Olukanni.
Performing the inaugurating of the Committee in his office, Governor Rauf Aregbesola, described the decision as one that would develop the mining and mineral sector in the state.
He said the initiative would in no measure assist the state in properly harnessing her potentials in mining, forestry and mineral sector just as the action would help bring to the barest minimum, illegal mining activities by unauthorized miners in the State.
Aregbesola said membership of the Committee, which were drawn from across relevant agencies will support the State in coordinating activities relating to mining and mineral resources across the nooks and crannies of the State.
Aregbesola decried the illegal activity being perpetrated by some unauthorised miners, which he said has affected the state economically.
He held that the Committee will help the State to ensure proper registration of trees, mining and mineral resources sites for effective and efficient coordination and monitoring.
According to him, “As part of effort to have a fair coordination for development of mineral resources as advised by the Federal Ministry of Mineral Resources, so as to have effective and efficient mineral resources management, this committee needs to be inaugurated.
“And for this, all tiers of government would be informed about the mineral resources through this committee and through this committee too, the activities of the illegal and unlawful miners will be curtailed.
“Through this too, our state, local governments as well as Federal Government will be able to have control over the mining activities in the State.
“It is our hope that the state will be effective, efficient and productive in the management of her natural and mineral resources, particularly those potentials in the mining sector.
“We will be able to manage conveniently the different and diverse interests in mining through this Committee and I believe that the effort of this Committee will complement our effort in mining,” Aregbesola added.
Charging members of the Committee on the need to be proactive in discharging their duties, Governor Aregbesola said it is incumbent on every member of the Committee to do the needful so as for the State to actualize the purpose for constituting the Committee.
“You must all work together to ensure that our State achieves the purpose for the constitution of this Committee and you must all work with the fear of God,” Aregbesola charged.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the Committee, Hon Ajilore, expressed gratitude to the governor for the opportunity given them to serve.
He promised that the Committee will deliver on its mandate to enhance the State’s potentials in mining and mineral resources, noting that no stone will be left unturned to complement the efforts of the State in effective and efficient mining and mineral resources management.
The state of Osun keeps looking for ways to prosper and bring in funds for the state. This is a good move by Ogbeni, at least with this committee set up the state can know what minerals they have, where they have it and the funds it would get them.