The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde has said that irrespective of the explosion caused by illegal mining activities, he would not ban the business in the state.
He made this known while giving an update after the blast that devastated parts of Ibadan, including Bodija, Agbowo, Eleyele, and Orogun.
The Governor explained that the explosion was caused by illegal miners who stored explosive devices in a building in the Bodija area.
He assured residents that his administration is effectively managing the situation, with support from President Bola Tinubu.
Makinde added that the government has made arrangements for temporary shelters to accommodate the 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, βMy approach has been a little bit different.
βI 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
βIt 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.β