The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate activities of illegal miners in Ilesha in Osun State.
The resolution was sequel to a motion moved by Lawrence Ayeni on Wednesday, September 29, 2021, during plenary.
To carry out the investigation, the House mandated the committee on solid minerals to liaise with the Ministry of Mines and Steel to obtain the list of legitimate mining licences.
The decision to embark on the investigation followed a motion moved by Lawrence Ayeni.
While moving the motion, the lawmaker said illegal miners have caused untold hardship to the villagers, who have been forcefully displaced and dispossessed of their lands.”
He added that their activities are causing “environmental hazards/natural disasters such as landslides, earthquakes, erosion, formation of sinkholes, loss of biodiversity and contamination of soil, groundwater and surface water by chemicals released during the mining processes.”
Consequently, the committee was given 6 weeks to carry out its investigations.
