Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State declares his decision not to impose a ban on mining activities in the state, even in the aftermath of the recent explosion in Bodija, Ibadan, attributed to illegal mining.
In an update addressing the situation, the governor confirmed that the blast resulted from illegal miners storing explosive devices in a Bodija building.
Governor Makinde assured the public that his administration is actively managing the aftermath, with support from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Additionally, arrangements have been made for temporary shelters to accommodate victims and their families affected by the explosion.
When asked during an interview on Channels TV Politics Today if he was considering banning mining in the state following the incident, Makinde said, “My approach has been a little bit different.
“I will not go out to ban mining activities because there are people who are legally mining in the state. They may be international investors. You will give the impression that this is a lawless environment where we will not obey our contracts, what we signed with people.
“It is a difficult route to take. When we are swimming through the situation we have found ourselves, we will not have a knee-jerk reaction to the issue.”
