The Federal Government has ordered the immediate and indefinite suspension of mining activities within the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, its teaching hospital, and environs pending the conclusion of the investigation into suspected illegal mining around the community.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, disclosed this in his office, yesterday, after a meeting with the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Adebayo Bamire and Chief Medical Director of OAUTHC, Prof. John Okeniyi.
According to Alake, sequel to reports by the media about the activities of illegal miners within the precinct of the university, the ministry immediately swung into action to ascertain the veracity of the allegations.
Alake said that upon summoning some operators discovered to be carrying out illegal activities, they presented some licences and letters of consent which necessitated further investigations to ascertain their authenticity, hence the imperative of inviting the university authorities for a parley.
In his submission, Bamire expressed gratitude to the minister for the audience, highlighting the capacity of the university to play an active role in exploration, research and other sectors of the mining value chain.
“We have some of the best geologists and mining professionals in the country.
“We feel that we need to set up a sort of excellent research and training facility on mineral resources within the university. If we can get that in the university, it will help us, support the university community, the state, and ultimately contribute to the development of the mining sector,” he added.
The vice chancellor also hinted about the university’s application for an exploration licence, expressing optimism that with the anticipated approval, the university will be able to carry out exploration, discover the distribution and quality of mineral resources within the university’s environs and across the country.
