…as House of Reps Committee promises to address gully erosion in Ijebu-Ode, others
Segun Ayinde, Abeokuta
Governor Dapo Abiodun has attributed the cause of most erosions in Ogun State to activities of those who indiscriminately mine laterite and other natural resources in the state.
Abiodun said that members of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Ecological Fund should impress on the federal agencies in charge of mining to monitor the activities of miners to prevent ecological disasters in the country.
He stated this when he received members of the House of Representatives Committee on Ecological Fund who paid him a courtesy call in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele said his administration is ready to work with the federal government agencies to stop the degradation of the environment.
He said: “I would like to imploy you to talk to the respective agencies who monitor mining so that we can work together as prevention is better than cure.
“Yes, there is the issue of climate change, but I think while we are trying to resolve these issues and find ways to improve the lives of the people who are been impacted, we must also at the same time look at the causes of the erosion problem.
“The major cause is organisation; these are all areas that have been impacted because of the effect of infrastructure development right across the state.
“Mining is a big concern that we have here in Ogun State. Mining of laterite and other natural resources where the land is actually opened up and at the end of the day the mining site is not put back into proper condition and that is why when we experience rainfall, erosion starts and we have this kind of very aggressive erosion which causes problems for our people.
“So, if we can stop this thing from happening in the first instance, it will limit the devastation our people suffer. The hope of our people rests in you to help us get the funding to help us ameliorate the problems our people are having with this devastation,” the governor said.
The committee members were in Ogun State to monitor some areas impacted by gully erosion and other natural disasters.
The Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Sina Oyedeji assured the people of Ijebu-Ode and its environs that the federal government would collaborate with the state government in addressing the gully erosion that is threatening the area.