TheCable

Ademola Adeleke, the Osun governor, has ordered the immediate disbandment of the state’s mining joint task force (JTF).

Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke’s spokesperson, quoted the governor as saying the disbandment is in tandem with his drive in cleaning up the state’s solid mineral sector.

The governor also directed that operational vehicles and documents in the possession of the disbanded task force be handed over to the solid mineral committee while a new team is reconstituted immediately.

“The existing JTF is consequently directed to hand over all government vehicles and documents in their possession to the solid minerals committee,” the statement reads.

“As a follow up to the disbandment, the state governor has further issued instruction for the reconstitution of the JTF.”

“I consequently direct the chairman of the solid mineral committee to take necessary steps to ensure a seamless transition from the old to the new JTF. The new team when constituted must operate with utmost professionalism with zero tolerance for misconduct.”

During the inauguration of a committee to monitor and regulate mining activities in Osun earlier in December, Adeleke lamented how residents were dying from the adverse effects of illegal mining.

TheCable had also reported how the governor ordered the immediate suspension of all mining activities by firms operating on the state’s mining licences.