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Governor Dapo Abiodun has attributed most ecological problems in Ogun State to the indiscriminate activities of illegal miners extracting laterite and other natural resources.
The governor urged members of the House of Representatives Committee on Ecological Fund to encourage federal agencies responsible for mining to closely monitor the activities of miners to prevent ecological disasters nationwide.
Abiodun made the call on Tuesday while receiving the House of Representatives Committee on Ecological Fund, who paid him a courtesy visit at his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
Represented by his Deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, the governor said his administration is ready to collaborate with federal agencies to halt environmental degradation.
He said, “I urge you to speak with the relevant agencies monitoring mining so that we can work together because prevention is better than cure.
“Yes, there is the issue of climate change, but as we work to resolve these problems and find ways to improve the lives of those affected, we must also address the causes of the erosion problem.
“Mining is a significant concern in Ogun State. The extraction of laterite and other natural resources leaves land exposed, and when mining sites are not properly restored, rainfall leads to aggressive erosion, causing major problems for our people.
“If we can prevent these activities from occurring in the first place, we will reduce the devastation our people face.
“Our people are relying on you to help secure funding to address the challenges caused by this devastation.”
The committee members were in Ogun State to inspect areas impacted by gully erosion and other natural disasters.
The Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Sina Oyedeji, assured the residents of Ijebu-Ode and its surroundings that the federal government would collaborate with the state government to address the gully erosion threatening the area.
Oyedeji, who led the committee for an on-the-spot inspection of gully erosion sites in Ijebu-Ode, stressed the urgency of addressing the situation.
The federal lawmaker, who was guided around the sites by the Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, described the situation in Ijebu-Ode as dire.
“There’s an office managing this, and as a committee, we will sit with them to ensure it receives immediate attention. The next step is to obtain the necessary documents and tests to determine the appropriate course of action, and then present it for funding.”
Oyedeji added that the ideal solution would be to relocate people living in the affected areas, but acknowledged the challenges of moving people from familiar surroundings.
“How will we feed them? We can’t feed them, so we must instead address the situation so our people can continue living here and conducting their businesses.”
On compensation for affected residents, Oyedeji said it was necessary on humanitarian grounds, urging victims to file claims for compensation.
“Undoubtedly, it will be part of what the federal government will do for them,” he added.Oyedeji, whose team also inspected erosion sites in Isheri, Ifo Local Government Area, described the flooding in the area as severe, assuring residents that his committee would liaise with relevant agencies to address the issues.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, attributed the frequent erosion in Ijebu-Ode to the earth tremor that occurred in the town in 1985.
He said the state government had conducted necessary tests to find a permanent solution to the problem.
On the possible relocation of residents in the affected areas, Oresanya said it was the right course of action, but expressed concern that they may be unwilling to leave their ancestral homes.
He said, “If there are three to six sites like this in Ijebu-Ode, what is the size of the town to have so many?
“We have requested comprehensive information from the commissioner and consultant.
Some of the areas visited include Owa, Makalewu, Ikangba, and Isheri.
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