Amid miners’ adverse ecological impacts on Osun’s environment, Governor Gboyega Oyetola has inaugurated the Minerals Regulations and Environmental Management Committee.

He inaugurated the committee on Wednesday.

“The inauguration of this committee is another major step towards lifting our state out of economic misery and re-defining our socioeconomic life as a state.

“As a government, we have resolved to erect a solid structure for driving our resource-blessed state and delivering resource boom,” said Mr Oyetola.

He added that the state had faced the “excruciating challenge” of environmental degradation, arising from a lack of environmental and ecological literacy on the part of the local communities.

He noted that recently the Osun river was polluted with heavy metals and other contaminants, threatening investments in the water sector.

“Our land is also littered with an array of abandoned mining sites that require decommissioning and reclamation.

“I hereby call on this committee to rise to the occasion and ensure this ugly trend is reversed now,” Mr Oyetola said.

Mr Oyetola, during the inauguration in Osogbo, saddled the committee with the responsibility of sanitising the state’s resource climate.

It is also to resolve the extant challenges faced on mining sites and affected communities.

The governor added that the appointment and inauguration of the committee were in line with the Nigeria Minerals and Mining Act 2007, which empowered the committee to oversee the regulation of the entire mining operations in the state.

The committee will discuss and advise the minister of Solid Minerals on matters affecting encroachment, trespass, security, social unrest, pollution, and environmental degradation of lands minerals were extracted regarding licence holders within the state.

He accused licensed miners of irresponsible and unprofessional mining, the committee to educate and sensitise people on ecological literacy through town hall meetings and media interventions.