Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State claims that unchecked mining operations are seriously harming the state’s ecology. The environmental effects of uncontrolled mining have severely damaged areas like Ewekoro, Ijebu-Ode, and Sagamu, resulting in extensive deforestation, water contamination, and the loss of agricultural land. Local ecosystems have been upset by these damages, making it more difficult for farming communities to make a living.
Governor Abiodun voiced grave concerns about the possible long-term repercussions of these unregulated activities, which endanger not just the environment but also public health and welfare. Because of the frequent entry of debris and mining waste into rivers and streams, which contaminates nearby water supplies, mining operations have led to soil erosion. Clean water has becoming scarce for dependent communities as a result In Ogun State, unregulated mining operations are causing Communities who rely on rivers for farming, fishing, and drinking have found it difficult to obtain clean water as a result.
The illegal nature of most mining is another urgent issue that the governor brought up. The state has a large number of unlicensed operators who frequently flout safety regulations as well as environmental restrictions. Due to their tendency to put short-term financial gain ahead of the environment’s long-term health, this has made the harm worse. In order to put an end to these damaging actions, Governor Abiodun has demanded that mining laws be strictly enforced. He further called for federal assistance in combating illicit mining operations, which sometimes operate outside the purview of state regulation because they take place in such expansive, rural areas.
The governor added that growing demand for building materials like granite and limestone—which are essential to sectors like cement manufacturing—was a contributing factor in the illegal mining growth. Ogun State is home to a number of sizable quarries, but uncontrolled small-scale mining has exacerbated environmental problems because enterprises frequently take minerals out of the terrain after their operations.
Natural habitat degradation, flooding, and landslides have increased as a result of the ecological cost. Local residents have been forced to relocate in certain places as a result of this, as their homes and farms have been either completely destroyed by pits left behind by mining operations or become unusable due to the altered composition of the soil. Additionally endangering biodiversity, the trash from mining causes local creatures to either vanish or becoming extinct due to the destruction of their ecosystems.
Governor Abiodun emphasised that in order to overcome these obstacles, cooperation between the federal and state governments is required in order to enforce stronger mining regulations and carry out environmental rehabilitation initiatives. In addition to performing environmental impact assessments, he suggested that mining corporations be obliged to commit to land reclamation programs following their operations. In order to support agriculture once more, this would entail replanting trees, filling in mining trenches, and improving the condition of the soil.
Abiodun also demanded the implementation of better monitoring systems to keep tabs on mining corporations’ operations and guarantee that those who break environmental laws face consequences. He believes that striking a balance between industrial progress and environmental protection is essential to Ogun’s economic future. The governor asked interested parties to to embrace sustainable mining practices that safeguard both the local ecosystem and the livelihoods of the people living in affected areas.
