The Ogun State Government has issued a note of warning to illegal miners and dredgers operating within its domain, threatening necessary legal actions and stiff sanctions against any lawbreaker.
This warning was given by the state Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Adebola Sofela, at a stakeholder meeting with miners and dredgers held at the Ministry’s Conference Room in Abeokuta, the state capital.
Sofela who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Olu. Ola. Aikulola, described mining and dredging as an important sector across the globe considering its revenue and employment generation potentials, which needs to be carried out responsibly.
The Commissioner lamented the negative impacts of irresponsible mining and dredging on the community and State infrastructure, which he said can both be destructive and disruptive.
Sofela, who also noted that some miners and dredgers had been operating with expired documents, called for immediate screening of the operators’ papers.
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Urging the miners to adhere and be alive to their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and commitment to government, the Commissioner said that both the community and government should not be short-changed in the scheme of things.
“The note of warning I am giving today is an indication that it is not going to be business as usual going forward. If you are arrested for illegal mining and dredging, you will be made to face the full wrath of the law.
“Mining is a win-win thing if done responsibly but destructive and disruptive when it is irresponsibly carried out given the monumental financial effects it has on government and community at large. We have a collective responsibility to protect our environment and see that things are done accordingly,” he said.
Responding on behalf of the miners and dredgers, Mr. Ebenezer Aina, commended the government for its efforts at ensuring that standard practice was adhered to in their operations.
