The executive chairman, Olorunsogo local government in the Oke Ogun area of Oyo state, Hon. Qozeem Orelope Olayanju has called on the state government to speed up the establishment of the proposed special task force on Illegal Mining for the protection of mineral resources in the state.
Olayanju made the statement on Monday while speaking with journalists in his office at the council Secretariat, Igbeti.
Hon Olayanju’s statement followed the Solid Mineral Development Agency stakeholders meeting held with the Oyo State Deputy Governor, Chief Bayo Lawal last Friday at the Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan.
The state government agreed with the agency to launch a task force that will include all the security agencies, as a solution to the illegal mining activities that have been going on in Oyo State, especially between the three local government areas of Olorunsogo, Irepo, and Oorelope,
The proposed task force which would consist of all security apparatus from federal agencies and the state is said to come up with a template within the next 2 weeks and to be approved by the state Governor, Seyi Makinde.
Olayanju who lamented the serious damages on land, economic effect, and standard of living of his people in Olorunsogo and neighboring local governments due to the uncontrollable activities of the miners also said, the state gets less from its resources.
The council chairman claimed that his local government and close communities aside from being dependent on agriculture as a major occupation, were also blessed with various solid minerals in commercial quantity, saying a holistic measure must the taken in quick time to ensure that illegal mining is stopped so that the communities and the state as a whole benefit from the God-given deposits.
” I commend the state government and the Director General Solid Mineral Development Agency, Mr. Abiodun Oni with the agency stakeholders for coming up with a lasting solution to the illegal mining activities that have been going on in Oyo State, especially in Olorunsogo, Irepo, and Oorelope local government areas in Oke Ogun.
“Creating a security task force to help tackle illegal mining and activities of illegal miners will not only safeguard our resources, it will also improve security for our people and stabilize the living standard of the people in affected communities in the Oke Ogun area.
” So, the setting of the security task force is a welcome development, it is what our people want, and we will all give our support for its success. The involved communities are looking forward to the commencement in quick time” Olayanju said.
