Concerned by the need to put in place measures towards protecting the residents of Ogun State from the activities of illegal miners, the 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.
The passage of the resolution followed a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Yusuf Sheriff, seconded by Hon. Bisi Oyedele and supported by other lawmakers after an extensive deliberation on the priority for the safety of the people and preservation of the environment at a plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
Opening debate on the motion, the Sponsor, who is also the Minority Leader of the Assembly, Adeleye Lukman, submitted that with an assessment of the occurrence that claimed lives and properties in the neighbouring Oyo State, it had become imperative to address the potential dangers posed by numerous mining sites across the State controlled mostly by unregistered foreigners with who often disregarded environmental safety laws.
Adeleye, added that the State Ministries of Environment, as well as Industry, Trade, and Investment, be mandated to actively enforce and ensure strict compliance with safety regulations within the mining sector, noting that such proactive approach was crucial in preventing disasters and protecting the lives and property of residents and public infrastructure.
Other lawmakers including Bisi Oyedele, Yusuf Amosun, BabatundeTella, Waliu Owode and Adegoke Adeyanju who corroborated the Sponsor’s submissions cited examples of various environmental infractions poised by the activities of the illegal miners.
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 of the State to report any unsafe mining practices or storage of dynamites in their vicinity to the relevant government agencies.
The lawmakers noted that the motion was a preventive measure and as part of their legislative interventions to further put concerned government agencies on their toes towards ensuring protection of lives and ensure environmental safety.
In his response, Speaker Elemide 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.
