Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has issued three Executive Orders to establish two new agencies.

The new agencies are the Ogun State Mineral Resources Development Agency and the Ogun State Landscaping and Recreation Agency.

In addition to the establishment of these two agencies, the third executive order restrains monarchs from entering into any form of agreement or Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on mining activities or any other land matters in their domains.

The latest development was made known via a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy,  Kayode Akinmade, on Saturday, June 22, 2024.

Akinmade said the three executive orders were with an immediate effect.

He stated: “The Ogun State Mineral Resources Development Agency shall directly or through qualified third parties, conducts  and establishes working relationship with host communities and local governments for the conduct of geo-technical and geological surveys of solid mineral deposit within their domains; geo-technical survey of solid mineral deposits in the State and maintain relevant data in the Sector; organises the solid minerals sector to the best interest of the State;

“Develop and strengthen the local capacity of investors in the solid minerals sector and build value re-orientation of indigenes of the state towards engaging in solid mineral SME business; empower the youths in the state to participate in the mining business under a specified program;  promote solid mineral investment within the state through prospection and exhibition;  establish a data bank to document the rocks and minerals identified in the State; and conduct regular visits to mining sites to forestall environmental degradation in collaboration with other Agencies.

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“To realise its objectives, the Agency shall be funded through fees generated from regulatory agency, budgetary allocation; grants and financial intervention from both local and international development partners; as well as gifts, aid and other legitimate contributions. This Executive Order shall take effect on the day of 2024.

“The Ogun State Landscaping and Recreation Agency shall administer, maintain and manage all designated parks and recreation centres in the State;  carry out the general directives and policies of the government in respect of the development, maintenance and management of parks, recreation centres, gardens, playing grounds and open spaces in the State; Grant permits on the payment of the prescribed fees in any of the open spaces in the Parks or Gardens managed by the Agency;  charge appropriate fees for the use of facilities provided where necessary in the State’s Parks and Gardens;  regulate the hours of use of the open spaces in the State Parks or Gardens by members of the public.

“Provide and maintain adequate security and environmental sanitation facilities for the State Parks, Gardens, Open Spaces and Recreation Centres;  enumerate and tag all trees within the State inclusive of those private tenements; monitor and supervise pruning and felling of trees within the State; advise on all matters relating to the greening programmes of the State;  cause fund for the maintenance of Parks and Gardens;  carry out such other assignment as may from time to time as directed by the Governor.

“For the purpose of realizing its objectives, the Ogun State Landscaping and Recreation Agency shall be funded through any or all of the following means: Budgetary allocation; Monies received for services rendered; Grants and financial intervention from both local and international development partners; as well as Gifts, aids and other legitimate contributions.”

On the order restraining traditional rulers from mining activities in Ogun State, the Special Adviser noted: “The State observes the current trend in which miners and investors circumvent regulation and government oversight by encouraging Traditional institutions to interfere with land management by entering into Memorandums of Understanding and other irregular legal arrangements.

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“That all forms of Traditional Institutions existing within the State are hereby with immediate effect barred from entering into any form of Memorandum of Understanding or Agreement with any individual, companies or organisations seeking Land within any part of the entire State for purposes of Mining or Industry and are to forthwith refrain from issuing any form of consent letters for mining across the State.

“Any Traditional Institution or stakeholder in the Institution who flouts this Order shall be sanctioned in line with the provisions of the Obas and Chiefs Law and other relevant criminal statutes. From the date of this order, any individual, company or organisation that enters into any Memorandum of Understanding or agreement with a Traditional Institution or stakeholders,  whom this order applies on mining or industry shall be proceeded against in line with Section 61 of the Ogun State Criminal Law 2006 which prohibits interference with executive power.”

The Star