Ogun Assembly passes motion on regulation of explosives used in mining

Following on the Jan.16 explosion that rocked Ibadan from illegal miners’ stored explosives, Ogun House of Assembly passed a resolution on Thursday calling on regulatory agencies to enforce safety precautions in the handling of explosives.

This, the house noted, had become necessary, especially bearing in mind the indiscriminate use of dynamites by miners in quarries in Ogun.

The passage of the resolution followed a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Hon. Yusuf Sheriff (APC-Ado Odo Ota1) and seconded by Bisi Oyedele (APC-Ipokia) during plenary session on Thursday.

Opening debate on the motion, the Minority Leader, Hon. Lukman Adeleye (PDP- Odogbolu), submitted that the Ibadan explosion that claimed lives and properties in neighbouring Oyo State remained worrisome.

Adeleye explained that it had become imperative to address the potential dangers posed by numerous mining sites in Ogun and controlled mostly by unregistered foreigners who often disregarded environmental safety laws.

The lawmaker added that the state’s Ministry of Environment and that of Industry, Trade, and Investment, should be mandated to enforce and ensure strict compliance with safety regulations in the mining sector.

He noted that such proactive approach was crucial to prevent disasters and protect the lives and property of residents and public infrastructure.

Other lawmakers, who contributed to the debate, corroborated Adeleye’s submissions and cited examples of various environmental infractions posed by illegal miners.

Acknowledging that the mining sector was under the Exclusive List of the Federal Government, the lawmakers insisted that the state needed to put necessary measures in place to monitor and safeguard its people.

They urged Ogun residents to report any unsafe mining practice or storage of dynamites in their vicinity to relevant government agencies.

The lawmakers noted that the motion was a proactive measure to further put relevant government agencies on their toes to ensure the protection of lives and ensure environmental safety.

Before the vote was taken, the Speaker, Hon. Oludaisi Elemide (APC-Odeda), implored all agencies connected with upholding safety measures to shun anything that could compromise safety, peace and tranquillity in the state.

At least five persons were killed, while 77 others were injured when the Ibadan explosion occurred at Bodija, a residential area.

The impact of the explosion was said to have been felt as far away as 15km from the scene of the blast.

The explosion affected some structures at the state government secretariat and many other structures in the adjoining areas.

It also destroyed at least 10 cars and left about 30 houses at different stages of destruction in its track.

Oyo State government is interrogating a suggestion that the blast arose from explosives stored in Bodija by illegal miners.