By DAVID ADEOYE

Oyo State Government has vowed to put an end to illegal mining in every part of the state.

The Director-General, Oyo State Solid Mineral Development Agency, Mr Abiodun Oni, said this when he led a team from the agency on inspection to the Ibadan Circular Road, where illegal excavation took place.

This is contained in a statement issued on Friday in Ibadan by the D-G.

He said that the illegal excavation had led to the degradation of the area, spanning Egbeda and Lagelu local government areas.

Oni warned that the state government would continue to be strict against illegal miners and individuals that put the lives of residents at risk through different activities that degrade the environment.

He said the inspection followed an earlier visit by the state governor, Mr Seyi Makinde, during which he gave an instruction that such activities should be halted in the area.

He said that though the warning had been heeded, yet the state would not relent in ensuring that the environment was protected.

The D-G regretted that the state government would have to spend huge resources, which could have been channeled to the development of the state, on fixing the environmental damage caused by the unguided excavation activities.

“The Executive Order on the Security and Protection of Mining Communities is in force in the state; and the state government will leave no stone unturned towards ensuring its enforcement.

“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.

“So, we are going to keep inspecting this place and make sure this act stops,” Oni said.

The D-G and his team equally visited Igbeti in Olorunsogo Local Government Area of the state, where they inspected the site of the recent rock weathering.

The rock weathering had initially caused a stir before the state government explained the cause of the incident.

Oni reiterated the state government’s position that there’s no cause for alarm over the incident.

He, however, urged residents of Igbeti not to carry out activities near the rock “until they are informed it is safe to do so”.

He added that the state government had been on top of the situation, as it had been coordinating the local authorities including the local government and the traditional institution on necessary actions. (NAN)