The Oyo State Government has reiterated its commitment to clamp down on illegal mining operations that threaten public safety and damage the environment.
The Director-General of the Oyo State Solid Mineral Development Agency, Abiodun Oni, made this declaration during an inspection tour of the Ibadan Circular Road corridor, where unauthorized excavation has reportedly caused widespread environmental degradation across Egbeda and Lagelu local government areas.
Oni explained that the visit followed an earlier inspection by Governor Seyi Makinde, who expressed concern over the extent of environmental harm caused by the unlawful activities and directed immediate action to halt them.
“This is not just about mining,” Oni stated. “It’s about the lives of our people and the safety of our environment. What we’ve seen here is serious damage that the government will now have to spend huge sums to repair—funds that could have gone into schools, roads, and healthcare.”
He added that the state would continue to act under the Executive Order on the Security and Protection of Mining Communities, which was signed into law in 2023. The order, he said, empowers the state to intervene and enforce environmental safety, even though mining remains under the federal legislative list.
“We discovered massive environmental degradation when the governor visited this area weeks ago,” Oni said. “Following that, our team met with the individuals involved, warned them, and today we’ve covered about 8.5 kilometers without spotting any new excavation. That’s progress, but we’re not relenting.”
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He emphasized that inspections would continue and warned that any attempt to resume illegal mining would be met with strong consequences.
“This isn’t going to be a one-off. Illegal miners don’t stop easily, but neither will we. If they return, we’ll take firm action. The law is clear, and we will not hesitate to enforce it.”
The agency also noted that reclamation of the affected land would be expensive and time-consuming, underlining the long-term impact of unchecked excavation.
“We’re sending a clear message: anyone engaging in activities that put our environment and people at risk will be held accountable,” Oni concluded.
The inspection is part of ongoing efforts by the Oyo State Government to protect communities and restore environmental integrity in areas affected by illegal mining.
