Land: OGSG bars traditional rulers from signing MoUs

TheNewsZenith reports that Abiodun also signed two other Executive Orders for the establishment of two new agencies.

Kayode Akinmade, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, announced in a statement emailed to TheNewsZenith, on Saturday.

The new agencies are the Ogun State Mineral Resources Development Agency and the Ogun State Landscaping and Recreation Agency.

“The third executive order restrains traditional rulers from entering into any form of agreement or MoU concerning mining activities or any other land matters in their domain,” the statement read in part.

Akinmade stated that the Mineral Resources Development Agency would establish a working relationship with host communities.

“This is to conduct geo-technical and geological surveys of solid mineral deposits within their domain.

“The second agency is responsible for sustaining the achievement of the Ministry of Environment on environmental regeneration and restoration.

“Through the provision of parks, gardens and recreational centres state-wide, the agency will preserve the biodiversity and ecosystem of the environment,” he added.

The three executive orders take immediate effect.

Akinmade said Executive Order Two empowers the Ministry of Environment to start an aggressive tree-planting campaign.

This is to complement the beautification and landscaping programmes.

“This is to ensure an environmentally sustainable, healthier and beautiful society.

“The agency shall administer, maintain and manage all designated parks and recreation centres in the state.”

To realise its objectives, the government would fund the agency through budgetary allocation or monies received for services rendered.

Other sources of funding are grants and financial intervention from both local and international development partners.

On the third executive order, Akinmade noted that the state government had discovered a current trend in which miners and investors circumvent regulations and government oversight.

They are encouraging traditional institutions to interfere with land management by entering into MoUs and other irregular legal arrangements.

“Therefore, all forms of traditional institutions existing within the state are hereby barred from entering into any form of MoU or agreement with any individual, company or organisation seeking land within any part of the entire state for purposes of mining or industry.

“They are to forth-with, refrain from issuing consent letters for mining across the state,” the statement read in part.