TEXT OF AN ADDRESS BY THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF OSUN STATE, SENATOR ADEMOLA ADELEKE AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE SOLID MINERAL SECTOR COMMITTEE TODAY DECEMBER 12TH, 2022

TEXT OF AN ADDRESS BY THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF OSUN STATE, SENATOR ADEMOLA ADELEKE AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE SOLID MINERAL SECTOR COMMITTEE TODAY DECEMBER 12TH, 2022

Protocol

I welcome you all to this all important event. It has to do with the heart and soul of our state’s economy. This committee is saddled with serious assignment of recovering and protecting our common assets, our God – given solid mineral resources.

My administration is committed to protecting Osun assets, across board. Hence, I am today beaming strong searchlight on the solid mineral sector especially the activities of Segilola company and other similar companies operating in our gold fields.

To this end, I urge the public and all stakeholders to take note of these three major points :

1. Osun state according to extant laws is entitled to 13 percent derivation from every ounce of gold extracted from our gold and other solid mineral fields. Segilola and other operating companies are expected by law to pay Osun state 13 percent derivation on the value of gold and other solid minerals produced in the last 25 years. Till date, we have no record of any payment made by Segilola and other mining companies to Osun state. My administration is determined to recover every penny owed Osun state by companies operating in Osun gold fields.

2. Osun state has been subjected to intense environmental degradation arising from activities of mining companies. River Osun has been polluted and our people are dying as related sicknesses are spreading. These are sad realities which none of the mining companies has raised a finger to address. My administration will insist on the companies paying for the cleaning up of our rivers and environment. Segilola and other companies operating in our state should take note that cleaning up of our environment is going to be a continous exercise and the resulting expenditure is to be borne by the companies. I will not allow Osun people to continue to be exposed to polluted river water and the state to be so cheated.

3. My administration is conducting an audit of Osun assets in the mining sector. All state mining licences already diverted to private possession must be fully recovered.

4. All illegal mining activities must stop immediately. Henceforth, all illegal mining syndicates will be arrested and prosecuted.

For the sake of emphasis, denying Osun State of its Legitimate Revenue through refusal to pay derivation, and polluting our environment with impunity will not continue under my watch. I was elected to protect and serve the economic interest of Osun state and that is one of my priorities.

The mandate of your committee therefore includes among others to recover all monies due to Osun state from mining companies based on derivation platform and pollution cleaning fund. You are to also take inventory of Osun mining and quarry licences and ensure recovery of any licence already converted into private hands. And lastly, you are expected to proffer workable solution to addressing the challenges facing the mining sector as related to polluting our environment and rivers.

I expect an interim report from this committee in the next two weeks.

On this note, I hereby inaugurate this committee.

HE Senator Ademola Adeleke,
Executive Governor of Osun State