With a view to checkmating illegal mining in Osun state, the state Governor, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola has asked miners to desist from operating until they register with the state government.
The Governor gave this order at the State security sensitization meeting with Stakeholders in Ife/Ijesa Zone at Zenababs Half Moon Resort, Ijebu-Jesa Road, Ilo-Ayegunle, Ilesa on Tuesday.
The meeting, tagged: “Opportunities and Challenges in the Mining Sector,” had in attendance security chiefs, traditional rulers, leaders of Hausa communities in the state, miners among other stakeholders.
Speaking, Governor Oyetola said all miners operating in the state must be registered by the government before carrying out their activities.
He also charged landlords in the state to be wary in the kind of miners they house saying that should an unregistered miner be caught operating, the landlord would also answer for it.
Top traditional rulers in the state like the Ooni Adeyeye Ogunwusi and Owa Adekunle Aromolaran asked the state government to partner with traditional rulers to checkmate illegal mining among other security challenges battling the state.
They asked residents of the state to be watchful and vigilant and also charged state government to protect the people of the state from kidnappings and other criminal activities.
Heads of security agencies in the state like Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NDLEA, FRSC among others said they were ready to combat illegal mining and other criminal activities in the state.
The leadership of the Hausa Communities in Ilesa and Ile-Ife environs called on government to support it in tackling the challenges.
With government’s support, the leadership of the Hausa Communities said eighty percent of the security challenges and illegal mining would be solved.
