Uncontrolled Mining Activities Causing Ecological Disasters In Ogun-Abiodun…As House Of Reps Committee Promises To Address Gully Erosion In Ijebu-Ode, Others

Governor Dapo Abiodun has attributed the cause of most erosions in Ogun State to activities of those who indiscriminately mine laterite and other natural resources in the state.

The governor said members of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Ecological Fund should impress on the federal agencies in charge of mining to monitor the activities of miners to prevent ecological disasters in the country.

Abiodun made the call when he received members of the House of Representatives Committee on Ecological Fund who paid him a courtesy call in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele said his administration is ready to work with the federal government agencies to stop the degradation of the environment.

He said: “I would like to imploy you to talk to the respective agencies who monitor mining so that we can work together as prevention is better than cure.

“Yes, there is the issue of climate change, but I think while we are trying to resolve these issues and find ways to improve the lives of the people who are been impacted, we must also at the same time look at the causes of the erosion problem.

“The major cause is organisation; these are all areas that have been impacted because of the effect of infrastructure development right across the state.

“Mining is a big concern that we have here in Ogun State. Mining of laterite and other natural resources where the land is actually opened up and at the end of the day the mining site are not put back into proper condition and that is why when we experience rainfall, erosions starts and we have this kind of very aggressive erosion which cause problems for our people.

“So, if we can stop this thing from happening in the first instance, it will limit the devastation our people suffer.

“The hope of our people rest in you to help us get the funding to help us ameliorate the problems our people are having with this devastation,” the governor said.

The committee members were in Ogun State to monitor some areas impacted by gully erosions and other natural disasters.

The Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Sina Oyedeji assured the people of Ijebu-Ode and its environs that the federal government would collaborate with the state government in addressing the gully erosion that is threatening the area.

Hon. Oyedeji, who spoke when he led members of the Committee to on the spot inspection of gully erosion sites in Ijebu-Ode, said something must be done urgently to arrest the situation.

Oyedeji, who was conducted round the sites by the Commissioner for the Environment, Hon. Ola Oresanya described the situation in Ijebu Ode as pathetic.

“If we have between three to six sites like this in Ijebu-Ode, what is the size of Ijebu-Ode that we are having something like this. If something is not done on time, the whole of Ijebu-Ode is at risk.

“We have requested from the commissioner and the consultant that they should give us comprehensive information. We need to discuss with the Federal Government, there is a fund for this, and we will try to change the template.

“The funds must be used properly to attend to what is required immediately. There is an office that is managing this. We are a committee. We have to sit down with them and make sure it gets immediate attention. The next stage is we get the documents, make sure they run the necessary test to actually know the direction of the test, and then we take it to where the money will be disbursed.

“Actually, this is critical, it is alarming, what else can we say, if we have about five in Ijebu-Ode, what is the size of Ijebu-Ode, then Ijebu-Ode is in trouble, this is critical,” he said.

The Deputy Committee Chairman said that the ideal thing to do waa to evaluate people living in the area but added that it would not be easy to move people from a place they are familiar with.

“Are we going to feed them? We can’t feed them, so the only thing is we have to arrest the situation so our people can continue to leave here and do their businesses,” he said.

Speaking on payment of compensation to affected victims, Hon. Oyedeji said such was desirable on humanitarian ground, adding, however, that the right thing is for them to make a claim for compensation.

“Definitely,it will be part of what the federal government will do for them, definitely,” he added.

Hon. Oyedeji whose members also inspected erosion sites at Isheri, Ifo Local Government Area, described the level of flooding in the area as massive, assuring the people living in that axis that his Committee would liaise with the relevant government agencies to address the problems.

Also speaking, Oresanya, attributed the incessant erosion in Ijebu-Ode to earth tremor that occured in the town in 1985, saying the state government has carried out necessary tests with a view to finding permanent solution to the menace.

On the possible relocation of residents in the affected areas, Hon. Oresanya said it was the right thing to do but expressed fear that they may not want to leave their ancestral homes.

Some of the areas visited are Owa, Makalewu, Ikangba, and Isheri.