IT is quite pathetic that despite the fact that it has been weeks since the issue of unregulated mining in Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) gained public attention, the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals has not found it worthy to react not to talk of mandating security agencies to go after everyone involved in this reckless act. The deafening silence of the Ministry of Solid Minerals suggests complacency.
As it stands today, there are complains of gold contamination of the university dam which provides water for members of the University as a result of unregulated mining. Till date, no single reaction so far has been made by the Minister of Solid Minerals. The invasion of the University land for mining purpose is a serious issue which must not be swept under the carpet. Though, the artisans have left the mining sites after public outcry, yet, examples must be made of everyone involved in this unregulated mining. It is simply a crime against humanity. A preconceived genocide!
Whether the 11 companies that are said to have been licensed to mine on OAU campus have been paying revenue to the federal government is another issue on its own in entirety. However, the issue is that, as claimed by the University management, some sections of the university land were invaded by these miners without the consent of the management. What audacity!
The Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007 stipulates that “where any land within the area is subject to a right of occupancy, he or she must give prior notice to the lawful occupier and the local government chair of the area where the land is located and must pay compensation for damage caused”. The management must indeed pressure the Ministry of Solid Minerals to provide the details of those companies licensed by the Mining Cadastral Office to mine in the University without the consent of the management. And, it must not stop at that, everyone involved in the illegal mining must be identified, arrested and prosecuted.
The last time I checked, the land OAU sits on has been gazetted for the university, hence, whatever mining activity that must be done must not be without the consent of the management. Who does mining without concluding a community development agreement with the host community before the commencement of mine development or extraction as provided for in the Mining Act?
The Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007 also provides for environmental considerations which encompasses prevention of pollution, host community rights, establishment of the environmental protection and rehabilitation programmes and environmental protection and rehabilitation fund. Unfortunately, the mining activities of these reckless dregs has resulted in different forms of land degradation which ranges in sizes and depths because there was the absence of monitoring which made them mine without recourse to international best practices.
In fact, I expect the management to insist that everyone involved in the reckless and unregulated mining be arrested and prosecuted not just for invasion but also for endangering lives of staff and students of the University. The Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007 requires holders of mining titles to minimise and manage any environmental impact resulting from their activities and to rehabilitate or reclaim all disturbed land and pay rent and royalties that may become due. Unfortunately, none of these has so far been adhered to by these reckless miners. The degraded land have been abandoned after the public outcry without being reclaimed/rehabilitated which will definitely have a mass negative impact on the members of the University community sooner.
It is public knowledge that leftover chemicals and heavy metals that were used in the mining process will be present at the abandoned mining sites. Meanwhile, these substances have the potential to leach into the soil and surrounding water bodies including the University dam which will contribute to the poisoning of the water supply on campus that is already being complained of by stakeholders on campus.
Also, these reckless miners invaded land areas which are regarded as protected area for minerals exploration. The mining close to public road which was carried out and now abandoned at Ede road beside cooperative hostel is one example and also the mining at the University Junior Staff Quarters at Road 7 which is within 50km to the University dam is another example. These are worrisome activities which will definitely have negative effect on the health and lives of students and staff. The Minister must therefore ACT.
- Kazeem Olalekan Israel, OAU, Ile-Ife
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