The Federal Government, on Tuesday, suspended all mining operations around the vicinity of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC) in Ile-Ife, Osun, State.
This decision was announced by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, in Abuja, after a meeting with OAU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adebayo Bamire, and the Chief Medical Director of OAUTHC, Prof. John Okeniyi.
The minister stated that the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development took swift action to verify the allegations reported in certain sections of the media regarding illegal mining activities near the university.
He said: “Following the outcry generated by reports of illegal mining or suspicion of nefarious activities by mining operators within OAU, we immediately deployed officials of the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) and Mines Inspectorate for on-the-spot assessment.
“Preliminary reports that reached me indicated that there were indeed some activities around the premises. The ministry then stopped all activities, whether legal or illegal, for further investigations.”
Alake, in a statement by its Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, revealed that upon summoning some operators discovered to be carrying out illegal activities, they presented some licenses and letters of consent which necessitated further investigations to ascertain its authenticity, hence the imperative of inviting the university authorities for a parley.
He added, “We had a very fruitful meeting, and a lot of facts have come out of it. Based on the outcome of the meeting, I announce the indefinite suspension, with immediate effect, all mining activities within the premises of the University, the University teaching hospital and in fact around the area and boundaries of the university, until the conclusion of thorough investigations.”
In response, Prof. Bamire expressed appreciation to the minister for the audience and highlighted the university’s capability to contribute significantly to exploration, research, and the broader mining value chain.
He said: “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 are able to 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.”
The Vice-chancellor also hinted about the university’s application for an exploration license, 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 environs and across the country.
In attendance at the meeting were the Registrar, Kamarudeen Bakare; the Head of the Department of Geology & Geophysics, Prof. Olatokunbo Alao; the Director of Physical Planning, Dr. Anthony Owolabi; the Director of Maintenance Services, Engr. Olawuyi Isaac. The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of OAU Teaching Hospital, Prof. John Okeniyi, joined the meeting virtually.
