Disaster Looms In Osun Community Over Mining Activities

 

• Residents In Fear  •NASS Member Petitions Minister

THERE is a looming disaster in Iwoye, a community, Egbedore local government area of Osun State. 

Findings by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that activities of miners in the community been posing threats to the wellbeing and natural habitat of the residents of the community.

Iwoye is a community that sits on massive bodies of mineable rock.

Miners in the community, according to findings, now engaged in the use of explosive materials to blast rocks at various quarrying sites. 

The explosive materials, it was noted, always vibrate and shake buildings nearby the sites to their foundations. 

Sources in the community told OSUN DEFENDER that two major quarry companies in the area, Slava Yeditepe and Wolid Quarry, are allegedly notorious for the usage of explosive materials to blast rocks. 

The residents lamented that the activities of the miners are already having injurious impact on both private and public properties and their health without proper compensation.

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OSUN DEFENDER learnt that people in the area regularly fall sick while residential and public buildings have become weak, a situation that could cause earthquake or other disaster if not addressed.

It was learnt that over hundred residential buildings in the area had been terribly affected by the consistent blasting of rocks. 

According to the residents, the blasting was being done at a distance that violated the lawfully stipulated kilometres that must be observed to prevent residents from feeling the impact.

A house owner in the community, Ramota Olawale, told OSUN DEFENDER that the mining activities have cracked her building wall. 

Olawale who is in her late 50s said she is at the risk of losing her shelter due to the rock blasting activities.

Another aged resident of Iwoye who didn’t want her name in print, described the community as “too rocky”, saying that is responsible for the ‘indiscriminate’ blasting with explosive device. 

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She said: “Rocks are too much in our community; that is why people are coming to blast anyhow. They normally use explosive materials that always vibrate and shake out buildings to foundation. You will shiver if you witness a blast here.”

This is just as the Community Grammar School in the town has adjusted its daily activities to prevent students from witnessing the blasting period.

One of the workers at the school, who craved anonymity, said the school had to close before the normal closing hour due to the mining activities.

He said: “Whenever they blast, students shiver. Some of them, especially the new intakes, will be looking around to see if it is an attack because of the situation of the country. Most times, when we are having a lesson, the sounds of the blast normally scatter the whole process and cause stress for us. 

“So, the teachers and the students have been working under tension. It has been a tough environment for us.”

However, the lawmaker representing Ede-North/Ede-South/Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon. Bamidele Salam, has petitioned the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake regarding the mining activities.

Salam, in the petition dated September 20, 2023, a copy of which was obtained by OSUN DEFENDER, yesterday, said: “I write to bring to your attention, the alleged illegal mining activities in Iwoye, Egbedore local government of Osun State and the dangers being posed to residents and properties in the area.

“The alleged illegal mining activities by the duo of Slava Yeditepe and Wolid Quarry Limited have damaged properties and led to strange health issues in Iwoye, Egbedore Local Government of Osun State and its environment. It was further alleged from the findings that the mining licences of these companies have long expired without any renewal.”

Specifically, Bamidele asked the minister to order a stoppage of the operations of the firms forthwith and conduct an independent investigation to assess the level of damage their activities have had on the inhabitants of the area.

He asked: “That the mining activities by the stated companies in Iwoye, Egbedore Local Government area of Osun State be out on hold, forthwith.” 

 “That your ministry and other relevant government agencies undertake a comprehensive investigation of these complaints and carry out survey of the damage occasioned by these mining activities.

“That the companies responsible for the harm being complained about be made to pay adequate compensation to the affected families, community and public institutions.”

Both Governor Ademola Adeleke and Professor Aliyu Jauro, the director-general of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, were copied in the petition letter.

• Yusuf Oketola