Oyo moves to curb illegal mining, environmental damage around Ibadan Circular Road

By Adejayan Gbenga

The Director-General of the Oyo State Solid Mineral Development Agency, Mr. Abiodun Oni, has declared ‘war’ against illegal miners and individuals endangering residents through activities that degrade the environment.

Oni made this statement when the agency inspected the Ibadan Circular Road, where illegal excavation had led to the degradation of the area spanning Egbeda and Lagelu local government areas.

He said the inspection followed an earlier visit by Governor Seyi Makinde, during which he instructed that such activities be halted in the area. Although the warning had been heeded, Oni noted that the state would not relent in protecting the environment.

Oni lamented that the state government would have to spend huge resources—funds that could be channeled to development—on repairing the environmental damage caused by unregulated excavation.

He emphasized that the Executive Order on the Security and Protection of Mining Communities was still in force, pledging that the state government would leave no stone unturned in ensuring its enforcement, despite mining falling under the Exclusive Legislative List.

“If they continue to do this, we have to take action. Though the law of the land as regards mining rests with the Federal Government, we have our own laws that give us the room to act one way or the other,” Oni said.

“The Executive Order that the governor signed in 2023 takes care of some of those consequential responses, and we will put them into action. We have to get hold of these guys and enforce the law,” he added.