The governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, took decisive action yesterday by shutting down a facility suspected of being used for illegal mining and ordered the arrest of four operators involved in processing and packaging lithium.
The closure was initiated as the facility, originally intended for recycling batteries and tyres, was being misused for illegal mining activities. According to Sulaimon Olarewaju, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, the arrested individuals operated without the necessary government-approved license for business operations in the state.
Governor Makinde, during an unscheduled inspection tour to the factory site in Idi Ayunre, Oluyole Local Government Area, Ibadan, disclosed that preliminary investigations revealed the involvement of some Chinese nationals in operating the facility. He pointed out that while the federal government issued an operational license to the miners in line with constitutional provisions, security threats and concerns arise when states are not involved in the issuance of mining licenses.
Highlighting the violation of Executive Order 001 of 2024 on the safe handling of harmful substances, the governor stated that the arrested workers would face prosecution. He further emphasized that the state government would take over the illegal facility through a legal process to thoroughly investigate the matter.
Adenike Kaffi; From the News Source: DailyTrust
