Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has reaffirmed his commitment to fair practices in the state’s mining industry. He assured stakeholders that his administration aims to protect the rights of all parties, including businesses, host communities, and the state government, without targeting individuals or companies.
At a stakeholders’ forum, Adeleke, represented by Secretary to the State Government Teslim Igbalaye, addressed legal and policy conflicts in the mining sector, particularly the clash of state, federal, and community rights. He praised the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals for its regulatory efforts and stressed the need for clear boundaries between federal and state roles.
“We are aware of the legal complications in our federal system, especially in the mining sector,” Adeleke said through his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed.
He criticised stakeholders exploiting legal loopholes to undermine state and community rights and outlined steps his administration is taking to strengthen Osun’s position. These include revalidating mining licenses, reclaiming the state’s shares in the Segilola mining project, ensuring tax compliance, and seeking compensation for environmental damages caused by mining activities.
“We revalidated our mining licenses, reclaimed Osun’s shares in the Segilola project, and are pressing for companies to pay taxes and compensate for environmental damages. Our goal is to stop exploitation and ensure our people benefit from their resources,” Adeleke said.
The governor also highlighted the health and developmental challenges facing mining communities, emphasising the administration’s determination to address them.
