Oyo state government is to set up a task force against illegal mining pronounced in Olorunsogo, Irepo and Orire local government areas and to protect other mineral resources in the state.
The Director General Solid Mineral Development Agency, Mr Abiodun Oni made this known while speaking with journalists after a stakeholders meeting held with the Oyo State Deputy Governor, Chief Bayo Lawal at the Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan.
Mr Oni explained the task force which would consist of all security apparatus from federal agencies and the state would come up with a template within 2 weeks to be approved by the Governor to secure the mineral resources of the state for the benefits of the people.
The DG Oyo State Solid Mineral Development Agency assured the residents of the state that government is doing its best to stop illegal mining stressing that the days where mineral resources are taken away without authority are gone in the state.
The task force on illegal mining is to be chaired by the Director General, Oyo State Solid Mineral Development Agency.
Oyo State Government, on Saturday, sealed off some houses and shops within the Academy Market, Ibadan over unhygienic practices.
The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr Abiodun Oni said residents and owners of the shop violated environmental laws and failed to comply with the laid down hygienic practices.
Speaking through the Special Adviser on Environment, Engineer Ademola Aderinto, the commissioner said the buildings were sealed off during the ongoing sensitisation and enforcement campaign of the Oyo State government to commemorate this year’s World Clean-up Day.
He said the exercise was done to ensure total compliance with environmental hygiene and prevent the possible outbreak of any disease, pointing out that Environmental Health Officers had earlier visited the affected buildings and told the owners to do the needful but they failed to do so.
One of the sealed buildings
Waste thrown on the roof of one the sealed buildings
The commissioner, who said the affected buildings are responsible for heaps of waste dumped in the market and along the main roads, added that they do not have adequate waste bins for the waste being generated in their compounds.
Also, as part of activities marking this year’s World Clean-up Day, the Oyo State Government and Mottainai Recycling Ltd, recovered Five-thousand, One-hundred and seventy (5, 170) kilograms of plastic wastes in the clean-up activities carried out in the Academy Community market in Ibadan.
The team also recovered One Thousand, One Hundred (1,100) kilograms of cartons from the market.
According to Mr Aderinto, the exercise, which was carried out in conjunction with Waste Management Authority in the State and Mottainai Recycling Ltd, was also used to sensitize and educate market women on how a waste-free environment can foster better customer relations and increase sales.
He also appealed to residents to key into the Oyo State Government’s environmental blueprint.
“Marketplaces are by nature unkempt with practices that are harmful to the ecosystem, but Oyo State Government believes that with continuous sensitisation and enforcement, we can make the traders understand the importance of a neat location for business”, Aderinto said.
Speaking on the campaign, Managing Director, Mottainai Recycling Ltd, Mr Adey Adewuyi explained that the initiative was borne out of the need to ensure Oyo State is clean.
Mr Adewuyi who spoke through the Chief Sustainability Officer, Mottainai Recycling Ltd, Ms Deborah Fadeyi said, “We are commemorating the World Clean-up Day in a very unconventional way, with the market people.” “We are here to show them how waste can be turned into wealth”.
Also speaking on the campaign, the Chief Operating Officer, Mottainai Recycling Ltd, Ms Oluwaseun Fashukanmi explained that besides drawing the attention of the public to the immense financial opportunities of waste recycling, the public also needs to be aware of the threats of waste and pollution to human life and the survival of the ecosystem.
Federal government is to commence the construction of an international gem stones market in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
To this end, the Oyo State government has allocated two hectares of land for the project.
The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Architect Olamilekan Adegbite stated this in Ojoo, Akinyele Local Government during an official handover ceremony of the land by the representatives of the state government.
The minister noted that the project was part of initiative by the federal government to facilitate its economic recovery plans across the nation due to consequences of COVID-19 pandemic on the country’s economy.
Architect Adegbite who believed that the project would be completed this year, said the gem stone market would not only boost Oyo State economy but attract foreign investment.
In their remarks, Oyo State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr Seun Ashamu and the Executive Chairman of Oyo State Solid Mineral Development Agency, Mr Abiodun Oni explained that the project when completed, would complement the diversification plans of Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration.
