Ogun gov creates new agencies, bans monarchs from mining deals

The Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, has issued three Executive Orders establishing two new agencies.

The new agencies are Ogun State Mineral Resources Development Agency and Ogun State Landscaping and Recreation Agency.

Abiodun, through the third executive order, barred traditional rulers from entering into any form of agreement or Memorandum of Understanding concerning mining activities or any other land matters in their domains.

The governor gave this marching order in a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade.

According to the statement, the three executive orders take immediate effect.

The governor said, “Ogun state has rich and vast deposits of mineral resources which must be explored responsibly, judiciously and without detriment to the environmental ecosystem in mining areas.

”Now by the authority vested in me as the governor of Ogun State under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 constitution as amended, Prince Adedapo Oluseun Abiodun hereby other than an agency to be known as the Ogun State Mineral Resources Development Agency is hereby established.

“The Agency shall directly or through qualified third parties, conduct and establish working relationships with host communities and local governments for the conduct of geotechnical and geological surveys of solid mineral deposits within their domains; geotechnical survey of solid mineral deposits in the State and maintain relevant data in the Sector; organises the solid minerals sector to the best interest of the state.

“Develop and strengthen the local capacity of investors in the solid minerals sector and build value re-orientation of indigenes of the state towards  engaging  in solid mineral SME business; empower the youths in the state to participate in the mining business under specified programmes among others”

Speaking on Executive Order Two creating Ogun State Landscaping and Recreation Agency, the governor said it is in line with his administration’s transformation agenda to ensure sustainable development and fight climate change.

Abiodun explained that “Part of the visible evidence of the Transformation Agenda is the attraction of both Local and International commendation of the current administration’s vision in the State with regards to Tree planting, landscaping and beautification programmes in line with the International environmental standard and its vision for a flood free, hygienic and beautiful Gateway State such as to mitigate the effect of climate change.

“The Ministry of Environment has started a massive and aggressive tree planting campaign to complement the beautification and landscaping programs to ensure an environmentally sustainable, healthier and beautiful society.

“This greening initiative of the Ogun State Government is therefore conceived not just to beautify the environment but also to be experienced as an effort to mitigate the effect of Climate change, save the environment and protect our future which is aimed at reclaiming open spaces from all agents of environmental degradation.

“There is,  therefore, the need to create the Ogun State Landscaping and Recreation Agency, to sustain the modest achievement of the Ministry of Environment in the area of environmental regeneration and restoration and through the provision of Parks, Gardens and Recreational Centres State-wide to preserve the biodiversity and ecosystem of the environment”.

Abiodun said that the third executive order is to discourage and stop the sabotaging efforts of some traditional rulers conniving with some undesirable elements mining some resources of the state without the approval of the government.

“Pursuant to the authority vested in me as the governor of Ogun State, I hereby order as follows: That all forms of Traditional Institutions existing within the State are hereby with immediate effect barred from entering into any form of Memorandum of Understanding or Agreement with any individual, companies or organisations seeking Land within any part of the entire State for purposes of Mining or Industry and are to forthwith refrain from issuing any form of consent letters for mining across the State.

“Any Traditional Institution or stakeholder in the Institution 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 proceeded against in line with Section 61 of the Ogun State Criminal Law 2006 which prohibits interference with executive power. This Executive Order takes effect immediately.”