*Governor (Sen.) Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has directed immediate suspension of all mining firms operating mining licences, to further reform the solid minerals sector of the state’s economy

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In the current administration’s response to the alleged irregularities in the payments of due royalties and 13 percent derivation funds to stakeholders across the state, Governor (Sen.) Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has ordered the immediate suspension of all mining activities by firms operating on the state鈥檚 mining licences.

Governor Adeleke’s Spokesman, who announced the suspension in a statement issued Wednesday, December 14, said the affected mining licence operators should report to the state鈥檚 assets recovery committee with copies of their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the state.

Raw Gold

The Osun State Government said: 鈥淚n furtherance of his bid to reform the state鈥檚 Solid Mineral Sector, Governor Ademola Adeleke has directed immediate suspension of all mining firms operating the state鈥檚 mining licences.

鈥淎ll operators are to report to the Committee on Assets Verification and Recovery chaired by Dr. B.T Salami with copies of their Memorandum of Understanding, which governs their relationship with the state government.”

The governor stated: 鈥淭he suspension of the operators is to remain in force until the conclusion of the ongoing review of the MoU between the state as the owner of the licences and the operators.

“All operators are to report to the committee on Monday by 12 p.m.鈥�

Mining firms, government officials fleeced Osun people of resource wealth, ruling party alleges

Meanwhile, in relation to the latest suspension of mining activities in Osun State, Dr. Akindele Adekunle, Chairman, Osun PDP Caretaker Committee,聽 in another statement said: 鈥淲e are not surprised as there are credible reports on how the mining companies regularly settle top officials of the APC and its government.

Workers of Thor Explorations Limited, owners of Segilola Gold Project, building Nigeria’s first Gold mine in Atakumosa East LGA of Osun State聽 聽 Photo: Thor Explorations

鈥淲hen the people鈥檚 governor now exposes the nest of corruption, the state APC cannot even disguise to manifest its complicity.

“Osun people have taken judicious note of APC condoning and facilitating the fleecing of Osun natural resources.”

Dr. Adekunle stated: 鈥淭he governor has transparently addressed the state.

“He has nothing to hide. Only those hands in glove with Segilola have something to fear and that probably explains why the APC came out so shamelessly to defend those mining companies.

鈥淭he 13 percent derivation payment was openly announced by the federal government in 2019, and whatever names anybody called it, Osun deserves billions of returns from her God-given natural resources.”

The party’s leadership also alleged that “APC in advancing her hatchet job, confessed that 13 percent derivation was to be paid to solid mineral states from royalties by mining companies.

鈥淥sun also demands immediate action on the cleaning up of her environment.

“Our mining field, the entire Osun East, is an environmental disaster zone.

鈥淚s APC saying mining companies should continue environmental degradation without paying for cleaning up?

“Is APC happy that Osun People are reeling under sicknesses and dying due to the activities of Segilola and other companies?”

The statement further noted: 鈥淲e note that the APC should be ashamed of its barefaced approach at sidestepping the core issues of revenue loss to the state as evidenced in the revelation of Governor Adeleke.”

According to Adekunle, Governor Adeleke鈥檚 administration鈥檚 resolve to address obvious shortchanging done to the state in the past.

The Chairman of Osun PDP Caretaker Committee stated that 鈥渋t is disappointing that the APC failed to appreciate the enormity of the damage it had wrecked on the state. “Perhaps, it is still lost in its fraudulent style of governance that it could not realise the determination of the new administration to ensure sanity and probity in the management of public resources.”

He as well said: 鈥淔or one, Governor Adeleke interest as firmly affirmed in the expository was that Osun people should enjoy the benefit of their God-given natural resources.

“If this is not something the APC is used to, we at least expect them to pretend, and not confirm the suspicion of the public in the deliberate shortchanging of Osun people in the benefits of the mineral assets on their land.

鈥淭o help the APC out of its confusion, it is important to draw its attention to the admission in its statement of the fact that Osun State is entitled to a 13 percent derivation from every gold extracted from the state. “That was exactly what Governor Adeleke said in his speech and at no where did he lay claim to royalty payment as erroneously assumed by the APC.”

He added: 鈥淟et the APC know that Governor Adeleke is in possession of every documents that relates to mining activities in the state and they all pointed to the fact that Osun State has not been getting due derivations for mineral resources in its jurisdiction.”

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