The Governor of Osun State in Nigeria, Gboyega Oyetola, has inaugurated the Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO) to tackle illegal mining activities in the state. According to the Governor, the appointment and inauguration of the Committee are in line with the Nigeria Minerals and Mining Act 2007, which empowers the Committee to oversee the regulation of the entire mining operations in the state.
“The committee would discuss and advise the Minister of Solid Minerals on matters affecting encroachment, trespass, security, social unrest, pollution and environmental degradation of any land on which any mineral is being extracted as it relates to all licence holders within the State,” he said.
Read: Ghana: Nation Needs to Rethink Its Small Scale Mining Strategy. Here’s How
Environmental and ecological literacy
“While we recognise that the exploration and exploitation of solid minerals are on the Exclusive Legislative list of the Federal Government, we must also note that we have been faced with the excruciating challenge of environmental degradation arising from lack of environmental and ecological literacy on the part of the local communities coupled with irresponsible and unprofessional mining by both licensed and illegal miners. The starting point for remediating this situation is for you to educate and sensitise the people on ecological literacy through town hall and media interventions,” said the Governor.
“In achieving these tasks and ultimately setting Osun on the path of effective resource management, we have assembled men and women of character, relevant skills and experience,” he asserted.
Governor Oyetola further mentioned that the people of Osun look up to the members of the Committee to transform their challenges to fortune and to put their State on the map as the first State to get resource management right in the nation and on the continent.
