Following an FIJ investigation that exposed the illegal mining and destructive activities of some miners in Iwoye, Osun State, Bamidele Salam, the lawmaker representing Ede North/ Ede South/ Egbedore/ Ejigbo Federal Constituency at the Federal House of Representatives, has petitioned Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals Development.

On August 9, FIJ had published the investigation which detailed the injurious impact the activities of the mining companies in the community was already having on residents’ health.

The story highlighted the destructive impact the mining activities of the companies was already having on private and public infrastructure in the area.

FIJ’s investigation also looked at the consequences of the companies’ operations on the environment which ran contrary to mining regulations.

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FIJ then shared its findings with relevant stakeholders in the state, including Salam.

The federal lawmaker would later contact FIJ, promising to take further actions on the report.

Salam would again contact FIJ on Wednesday morning, stating that he had petitioned Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals Development on the matter.

He added that a copy of the petition letter had been delivered to the minister’s office at the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development.

The petition letter, dated September 20, highlighted the key findings contained in FIJ’s investigation. For example, it was discovered that the licenses of Slava Yeditepe and Wolid Quarry, the two active mining firms operating in the area, had long expired.

The three-paged petition letter read in part, “Following a publication by Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) dated 9th day of August, 2023, I write to bring to your attention, the alleged illegal mining activities in Iwoye, Egbedore Local Government of Osun State and the dangers being posed to residents and properties in the area.

“The alleged illegal mining activities by the duo of Slava Yeditepe and Wolid Quarry Limited have damaged properties and led to strange health issues in Iwoye, Egbedore Local Government of Osun State and its environment. It was further alleged from the findings that the mining licences of these companies have long expired without any renewal.”

The investigation also revealed that tens of residential houses and a public in the area had been terribly affected by consistent blasting of rocks. This is because blasting was being done at a distance that violated the lawfully stipulated kilometres that must be observed to prevent residents from feeling the impact.

Specifically, the letter asked the minister to order a stoppage of the operations of the firms forthwith and conduct an independent investigation to assess the level of damage their activities have had on the inhabitants of the area.

“That the mining activities by the stated companies in Iwoye, Egbedore Local Government area of Osun State be out on hold, forthwith,” the letter further reads.

“That your ministry and other relevant government agencies undertake a comprehensive investigation of these complaints and carry out survey of the damage occasioned by these mining activities.

“That the companies responsible for the harm being complained about be made to pay adequate compensation to the affected families, community and public institutions.”

Both Governor Ademola Adeleke and Professor Aliyu Jauro, the director-general of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, were copied in the petition letter.

Some of the residents FIJ interviewed narrated their troubling experience since the companies began operations in the community.

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“One incident that has been edged permanently in my head was when Slava Yeditepe detonated an explosive at its site and it came with a fearful sound. You could see the dusts in the air,” Samuel Olaniyan, a pastor and property owner in the area, told FIJ.

“Surprisingly, I saw a piece of rock flying toward my house. I never knew my wife was at the gate, trying to open it. She was just lucky that the rock did not land on her head. If that had happened, I don’t want to imagine what would have happened to her.”

Despite their complaints to community leaders on the companies’ activities, blasting of rocks continued and the firms even acquired additional sites with the help of local leaders.