In the aftermath of the recent explosion in parts of Ibadan, Oyo State, Governor Seyi Makinde has said that he will not impose a ban on mining activities in the state, News About Nigeria reports.
The governor made this statement during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday.
When questioned about the possibility of banning mining in the state following the explosion incident, Governor Makinde said he would not ban mining as there are legal miners in the state.
“My approach has been a little bit different. I will not go out to ban mining activities because there are people who are legally mining in the state. They may be international investors.
“You will give the impression that this is a lawless environment where we will not obey our contracts, what we signed with people. It is a difficult route to take. When we are swimming through the situation we have found ourselves, we will not have a knee-jerk reaction to the issue.”
The affected areas in the explosion include Bodija, Agbowo, Eleyele, and Orogun.
Governor Makinde has attributed the incident to illegal miners who stored explosive devices in one of the buildings in Bodija.
Despite the challenges, he assured that his government is effectively managing the situation, with support from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Temporary shelters have been provided for the victims and their families.
Meanwhile, in response to the incident, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has established a committee to review the laws governing the control of explosives in the country.
The Minister of Defense, Mohammed Abubakar, announced the formation of the committee after the FEC meeting held on Wednesday.
The committee’s mandate includes investigating whether the explosion was indeed caused by illegal miners, as indicated by preliminary investigations conducted by security agencies.
