Oyo State Governor, ’Seyi Makinde, on Monday signed into law an Executive Order establishing the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and another one on the protection of mining communities in Oyo State against insecurity and exploitation.

The governor, who performed the signing ceremony at the Conference Room of the Governor's Office at the Oyo State Government Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, said the signing was to give a legal underpinning to the efforts of the administration in the solid mineral and tourism sectors.

The two Executive Orders come against the backdrop of the administration's decision to drive its economic expansion agenda through tourism development and solid mineral development as captured in the Oyo State Roadmap for Sustainable Development, 2023-2027.

Makinde added that though mining activity is on the exclusive legislative list, the state governments chose to be proactive in ensuring adequate protection of the mining communities against insecurity and exploitation as well as on the attendant environmental issues.

He equally explained his decision to sign the Executive Order on the creation of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, noting that the government had earlier carved out the Ministry from the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.

He said: "For some time now, we have been watching the developments within our mining communities and we have to deal with security challenges around those communities.

"For us in Oyo State, we do know that mining is on the exclusive list and it is for the Federal Government to handle exclusively. But insecurity and environmental issues are things that the state would have to contend with.

"There are things happening, because when you go into mining operations you have an impact on the environment and also, what we have seen in Nigeria is that wherever you see mining activities, there is also insecurity issue out there.

"So, this Executive Order is on the protection of mining communities in Oyo State against insecurity and exploitation.

"The second Executive Order is on the establishment of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, because culture and tourism is a major pillar in our roadmap for sustainable development, 2023-2027.

“We excised the Ministry of Culture from the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism and also, the Ministry of Information now also has the civic orientation unit added to its functions.”

Present at the signing of the executive orders were the Deputy Governor, Barr Bayo Lawal, Secretary to the State Government, Professor Olanike Adeyemo, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi.

Others were the Attorney General/Commissioner for Justice, Barr Biodun Aikomo, Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade and the Director-General, Oyo State Mineral Development Agency, Mr Abiodun Oni.

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