Residents of the Isara Community in Remo North Local Govemment Area of Ogun State, have appealed to the state government and relevant agencies to regulate the activities of quarries in their community, lamenting that it poses several health risks including asthma, and skin cancer.
They disclosed that despite being the host community, they have continued to face neglect, intimidation, and unfair treatment at the hands of quarry operators and their collaborators.
The concerned members of the community under the auspices of Isara Socioeconomic Vanguard on Thursday, in a petition to Governor Dapo Abiodun and the House of Assembly, stated that they presently suffers air pollution, environmental degradation and bad roads caused by the heavy duty trucks plying the road day and night.
They also urged the state government to take strict measures and look into the indiscriminate selling of lands by some families to investors without caring about the environmental impact of their actions.
According to the petition signed by the chairman, Mr Taiwo Bakare, its secretary, Muyiwa Osifade and 23 others, they bemoaned that the quarrying activities has left the road linking Isara to Ago-Iwoye in deplorable state, making it difficult for farmers to bring their farm produce to the market.
Part of the petition titled, “Petition on indiscriminate sale of land for quarrying purposes and illegal collection of fees that go into private pockets” reads.
“For several years, our community has suffered utter neglect, intimidation, and unfair treatment at the hands of quarry operators and their collaborators. Despite being the host community, Isara had not meaningfully benefitted from the activities of the quarry companies.
“In total defiance to the provisions of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007, the quarries have refused to execute Community Development Agreement with Isara as the host community. If the activities of quarries are not properly regulated by relevant agencies of government, we may be having high cases of asthma, lung and skin cancer in addition to untold degradation of our vast arable land and food insecurity in Remo North Local Govemment.
“Ogun State Government may need to come hard on families that are indiscriminately selling lands to Chinese and other investors without caring about environmental impact of their actions Families selling land for quarrying must be made to sock approval from Ministry of Solid Mineral Development in the state. The road linking Isara to Ago-Iwoye is now in deplorable state as a result of the quarrying activities.
“This is impacting food security in the Local Government as farmers are increasingly finding it difficult to bring their farm produce to the market. Most of the produce go bad before farmers get vehicles to transport their produce and when vehicle eventually comes. the transportation is done at a very high price.
“Another thing that we are inviting Your Excellency to address, is the illegal and provocative action being perpetrated by some bad eggs as said earlier. We learnt that Mr. Yinka Adeleye and his cohorts are suffocating Remo North Local Government’s economy through collection of unauthorized fees from trailer drivers, in addition to the officially recognized govement levies and receipts.
“This act is not only unjust and exploitative but also undermines the authority of the Ogun State Govemment.
“Our Prayers. In view of the foregoing, we invite Your Excellency to passionately consider the following: Immediate investigation of the compliance of the operations of all quarries in Peteku and Odo areas of Isara with the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007.
“Further investigate the illegal printing and issuance of receipts as well as collection of unauthorized levies by any individual, family, or group. Ensure that quarry operators strictly comply with environmental laws, Community Development Agreements, and host community obligations.
“Protect the rights, dignity, and safety of Isara indigenes, who can no longer endure exploitation in their ancestral land and establish a clear and transparent framework for quarry operations that will prevent further abuse and restore peace in the community.”
They, however, expressed belief that the petition will receive the urgent attention it deserves.
Regulate activities of quarries, save us from cancer – Ogun community begs govt
