Government Sets To Reclaim Osun River From Water Pollution

Inorder to find a lasting solution to water pollution being experienced in some parts of the state, the Osun State Government through the Ministry of Environment and Sanitation, Ministry of Water Resources and Office of the Mineral Resources has set up an Inter-ministerial committee on Reclamation of Osun River.

The committee met on Wednesday, 9th August, 2023, to discuss and look for possible solutions and how to tackle the menace which was created through illegal mining during the previous adminstration in the state.

The committee frowned at how the administration of former governor Oyetola allowed this illegal miners to destroy the environment which later turned to water pollution.

The committee is chaired by the Honourable Commissioner for Environment, Mayowa Adejoorin. Hon. Adejoorin said the purpose of the meeting was to discuss on the effect of mining activities on Osun River and how to reclaim the river from pollution.

The chairman monitoring committee narrated the work done so far by the contractor in the catchment area to remove the turbidity pollution from Osun River by blocking the inlet polluted water from holes/lakes created by the Artisan miners that were discharging into main river.

It was revealed that an inspection visit had been carried out by the monitoring committee to some locations, such as Ilahun Ijesa, Iponda and other areas where embankments were built to hamper seepage into Osun River, which actually made the Osun water to clean to certain extent.

As parts of solution, it was raised that Environmental Management Plan (EMP) must be carried out especially for any Contractor or Consultant using excavator machine. It was also suggested that the reclamation of Osun River exercise should be done by the intervention of World Bank because the state government may not have such fund to tackle the menace alone.

In attendance were, Hon. Sunday Oroniyi, Commissioner for Water Resources, Prof. Lukman Jimoda, Special Adviser on Mineral Resources and Princess Boade Oyewale Afolabi, Special Adviser on Water Regulatory Commission/STOWASSA.

Other were, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mr O.T Olawuni, his counterpart from the ministry of water resources, Engr. Olusola Amoo, Engr. (Mrs) D.F Jokotola and other staff members.

Signed
Media Unit,
Office of the Commissioner for Environment & Sanitation,
Osun State.