The Ondo State Government has stepped up efforts to curb illegal gold mining in Ose Local Government Area, declaring that the interests of host communities will remain paramount in any move to harness mineral resources in the state.
Officials of the state, working with members of the Ose Local Government Area Mineral Resources Committee, undertook an on-the-spot assessment of a recently uncovered illegal gold mining site in the council area.
The inspection, according to the authorities, is part of ongoing investigations to confirm the existence of gold deposits and examine legitimate means of developing the resource for the benefit of both the state and the affected community.
The assessment team, led by the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Johnson Alabi, visited the excavation site at Olufa Community in Elegbeka, where illegal artisanal mining had earlier been reported.
Addressing community leaders and local officials during the visit, Alabi described the mining activities discovered at the site as largely surface-level and rudimentary. He, however, noted that preliminary geological signs point to the likelihood of more significant mineral deposits beneath the surface.
The commissioner stressed the need for the government to act swiftly and in line with laid-down regulatory procedures to ensure that any exploitation of the mineral resource is done lawfully and sustainably.
He added that communities with other mineral endowments, including Ute, reputed for coal deposits, would be properly sensitised on the state’s plans in order to secure cooperation and avert disruptions that could undermine development efforts.
Reaffirming the resolve of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa’s administration, Alabi said the state remained committed to unlocking mineral resources across its local government areas to drive economic expansion and grassroots development.
While acknowledging that mining is under the Exclusive Legislative List of the Federal Government, he said the state would continue to explore lawful channels to protect its interests and ensure that host communities derive due benefits.
The Chairman of Ose Local Government, Clement Kolapo-Ojo, commended the ministry for what he described as a prompt intervention. He urged the state to fast-track necessary measures ahead of the rainy season, warning that the proximity of the site to a river poses flooding risks.
Also speaking, the Chairperson of the Mining Committee, Mrs Kehinde Adeniran, pledged intensified monitoring of mining activities in the area, assuring that any illegal or unethical operations would be exposed.
Other officials at the inspection included the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Alhaji Olabode Yusuf; the Director of Mineral Resources, Abiodun Jones; the Deputy Director of Mineral Resources, Bidemi Oladapo; representatives of Proneg Consultancy Services led by Seun Okeowo; as well as divisional heads and councillors.
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