The Ondo State Government through its State Environmental Protection Agency (OSEPA) in its quest to safeguard the State’s environment has uncovered some illegal sand mining sites in the outskirt of Akure, the Ondo State capital.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Hon. Oyeniyi Oseni led the Monitoring Team of OSEPA to various sites where serious land degradation were discovered.
The Special Adviser noted with dismay the level of damage done to the environment through indiscriminate excavation of sand beyond acceptable level from different spots in the area, causing water logged and vegetal destruction of the area, thereby posing threats to the entire ecosystem.
The SA read the riot act to the mining operatives while informing them that Government would no longer tolerate any deviation from extant regulations and operational guidelines as applicable to sand mining activities in the State.
Hon. Oseni added that anything short of this is capable of long term devaluation of the environment and safety of the public.
In her contribution, the Ag. Permanent Secretary, Princess Korede Giwa said going forward, OSEPA Taskforce Team would aggressively monitor the activities of sand miners with a view to enforcing operational ethics and protocols in order to protect the environment, lives and properties of the citizens.
The Special Adviser thereafter met with the leadership of the various associations involved in sand mining; Association of Sand Quarry Operators and Suppliers (ASQOSOS) and Union of Tipper, Quarry Employee of Nigeria (UTQEN) and the Seriki Hausawa of Shasha market, Alh. Shehu Ibrahim Dangari.
He enjoined them to always obtain necessary permit from OSEPA, desist from digging below the permissible level and to always cover their trucks while conveying their products within the town.
