Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has vowed to arrest and prosecute illegal sand miners in the State.
The Governor made the vow on Wednesday June 19, 2024, after he caught illegal sand miners red-handed at Obagie N’vbosa community in Ikpoba Okha local government area, during an inspection tour of the ongoing Coral City project, a smart city initiative and legacy project by Governor Obaseki, aimed at transforming the state’s urban landscape.
Obaseki who expressed great displeasure at illegal mining operations in the state, noted that such activities are environmentally threatening, leading to possible loss of communities as a result of landslides and other environmental consequences.
According to Obaseki, “We have agreed on the areas that can be borrowed. But from what we have seen today, it is like these operators have no respect and are challenging the government.
“You can see what is going on here. This is illegal. It is illicit. This is environmentally threatening, because if we continue at this rate, we will lose communities. Very soon, people around this community will not be able to live here in the next few years.
“There will be landslides because of the way they are carrying out these mining activities. It is just not right. We cannot continue to do this to ourselves. Our city is under threat, and this government will do everything to stop all of those who are illegally mining sand here.
He added: “The National Transmission Company issued a warning that even our transmission lines are being threatened because people are borrowing, taking sand around areas that are hosting these national infrastructures.”
“We as a government are going to do everything possible to put an end to this. We are saying this and warning the mining officers; the federal mining officers in the state who give these authorizations, that we will arrest and deal with them in Edo State. This is not a banana republic. You just cannot come out here and devastate our environment this way.”
On the Governor’s entourage were: Secretary to Edo State Government, Barr. Osarodion Ogie; Edo State Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Hon. Joshua Omokhodion; Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Hon. Chris Nehikhare, and other members of the State Executive Council.
