Ogun bans traditional rulers from signing mining agreement

The Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, has banned traditional rulers in the state from signing agreements on land matters and mining activities in their domains. This was after he issued three executive orders to establish two new agencies, namely, the Ogun State Mineral Resources Development Agency and Ogun State Landscaping and Recreation Agency. In addition […]

The Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, has banned traditional rulers in the state from signing agreements on land matters and mining activities in their domains.

This was after he issued three executive orders to establish two new agencies, namely, the Ogun State Mineral Resources Development Agency and Ogun State Landscaping and Recreation Agency.

In addition to the establishment of these two agencies, the third executive order, therefore, restrains monarchs from entering into any form of agreement or memorandum of understanding concerning mining activities or other land matters in their domains.

He maintained that illegal mining had a negative environmental impact on some communities and placed some of the most significant public assets in the state at risk.

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The governor, in a statement by his special adviser on media and strategy, Kayode Akinmade, noted that acquisition of land for the purpose of mining or industry must be made through an approved and transparent process.

Abiodun warned that anyone found flouting the order would face the law.

“Any traditional institution or stakeholder who flouts this order shall be sanctioned in line with the provisions of the Obas and Chiefs Law and other relevant criminal statutes.

“From the date of this order, any individual, company or organisation that enters into any memorandum of understanding or agreement with a traditional institution or stakeholders, whom this order applies on mining or industry, shall be prosecuted in line with section 61 of the Ogun State Criminal Law, 2006, which prohibits interference with executive power,” he said.