By Kazeem Olalekan Israel

Sir: The last time I travelled through the Ilesa-Ibadan expressway, I was left dumbfounded at the horrible sight of unregulated mining taking place by the expressway. The mining was being done with recklessness that you can tell some level of impunity is behind the conduct.

It is disgusting that the Ijesa community, the Osun State and the federal government through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development is aiding the conduct of this crime against environment and, indeed, humanity.

By all standard, the unregulated mining being done by the expressway at the Ilesa end of the Ilesa-Ibadan expressway tells a sad tale of Nigeria and the lackadaisical attitude of the political class towards the preservation of the environment and the security of lives and properties. I intentionally named the Osun State and federal government as culprits because none of them can beat their chest to say they are unaware of the activities of miners in that area.

Though, this large-scale unregulated mining is not exclusive to the Ilesa-Ibadan expressway, in fact, in parts of Iperindo where some companies might lay claim to licence from the Mining Cadastre Office, they have extended the scope of their work beyond the area allocated to them thereby violating the law on mining. Also, their activities there are ruthless and reckless. When you take your time to critically study the conduct of miners in Nigeria, you will understand that there is some sort of high-level conspiracy from community to security to political class. It is so pathetic.

Who would have thought that a time would come in the history of our country when mining (under whatever guise) will be done right by the roadside? What then is the essence of the road being constructed from Ibadan when a dangerous unregulated mining is being done on a large-scale there? It is really disturbing that for the past six years that this has been going on, there is no end in sight as this activity is being done with all recklessness even with clear violation of Section 3, subsection 1 (c) of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007.

If Nigeria were to be a country that pays attention to conducting things the proper ways, those engaging in this reckless mining and their sponsors would have been rounded up and made to face the wrath of the law as specified.

Sadly, there are many profiteers from this unregulated mining across all sectors in the country. The fact that mining could be done at that site violates the provision of Section 61 subsection 1 (a, b) of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007, which specifies that mining must be done in an environmentally-friendly manner.
Kazeem Olalekan Israel wrote from Ibadan, Oyo State.

Travelling through the Ilesa-Ibadan expressway and seeing what has been done in that area is an eyesore. No one should behold such and still has their mental stability intact without feeling sorry or agitated for what is to come. It also violates the provision of Section 70, subsection 1(c, d) of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007.

Despite the fact that the Mining Act has made provisions for the way and manner in which mining should be done in Nigeria, the Mining Cadastre Office is absolutely guilty of the non-compliance being witnessed.

Meanwhile, it does not only pose environmental threat to the area where it is being done, it also poses significant security threat. As we are all aware, race for who controls mining has led to many deaths especially in the Northern part of the country and we have seen how some sponsors of terrorism have been paraded and found guilty of sponsoring terrorism through the proceeds of unregulated mining. One would have expected the government to act but, they prefer to look the other way because they are in support of the recklessness being witnessed.

The government must at this point in time rise and address the dangers associated with illegal mining as is being witnessed on the Ilesa-Ibadan expressway and some other parts of the country. I particularly find it disturbing that despite declarations that the country is sitting on $700 billion in mineral wealth, there is nothing to show for it.

According to multiple reports, annually, $9 billion in gold is being carted away by illegal miners who are being protected by the powers-that-be. Enough of sweet rhetorics by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, he has to get up to work. That illegal miners still dominate the country’s mining industry speaks of the failure of the Mining Ministry. We must urgently do something before something “do” us. Illegal mining must be stopped!

Kazeem Olalekan Israel wrote from Ibadan, Oyo State.