Ogun Assembly asks agencies to go tough on illegal miners

The Ogun State House of Assembly has passed a resolution calling on all federal and state regulatory agencies to enforce safety precautions in the storage and handling of explosives, especially the indiscriminate use of dynamites by miners in the various quarry sites across the state.

This followed the recent explosion in Ibadan, Oyo State, which was traced to explosive devices in possession of illegal miners.

At its plenary, the assembly passed a resolution following a motion by the Majority Leader, Yusuf Sheriff, seconded by Bisi Oyedele and supported by all the other lawmakers.

Opening debate on the motion, the Minority Leader, Adeleye Lukman, submitted that with an assessment of the occurrence that claimed lives and property in neighbouring Oyo State it became imperative to address the potential dangers posed by numerous mining sites across the state controlled mostly by unregistered foreigners who often disregarded environmental safety laws.

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Adeleye added that the state’s ministries of environment, industry, trade and investment be mandated to actively enforce and ensure strict compliance with safety regulations within the mining sector, noting that such a proactive approach was crucial in preventing disasters and protecting the lives and property of residents and public infrastructure.

Acknowledging that the mining sector was under the exclusive list, the lawmakers clarified that the state needed to put in place necessary measures to monitor and safeguard the people of the state.

They urged residents to report any unsafe mining practice or storage of dynamites in their vicinity to the relevant government agencies.

The Speaker, Elemide Oludaisi, implored all necessary MDAs connected with upholding safety measures to strengthen their operations with a view to preventing anything that could compromise the existing safety, peace and tranquility being enjoyed in the state while preserving the ecosystem.