Osun Moves to Strengthen Mining Environmental Protection with New Framework
Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo
The Osun State Government has taken steps to strengthen regulation of mining activities with a focus on environmental protection, revenue generation, and sustainable development.
This follows a high-level inter-ministerial review meeting convened by the Office of the Governor for Natural and Mineral Resources, where a comprehensive framework on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) for the mining environment was presented.
The meeting which was held over the weekend at the Ministry of Finance Conference Room in Abere, brought together key stakeholders from the Ministries of Finance, Environment, Justice, Economic Planning and Budget, as well as the Osun Internal Revenue Service (OIRS) and other relevant agencies.
Delivering the technical presentation, Development Policy Expert, Dr. Wale Bolorunduro, outlined a legally grounded and globally aligned framework aimed at addressing environmental concerns associated with mining environment while boosting sustainable revenue for the state, without jurisdictional conflicts with federal government.
Bolorunduro identified critical gaps in the existing Osun environmental laws, noting that opportunities in federal mining regulations could be leveraged on, for states to strengthen environmental oversight and fiscal responsibility.
A former Commissioner for Finance in Osun State, whose training was in Metallurgical and Material Engineering before taken profession in business advisory and finance, explained the proposed framework seeks to ensure that all mining operators—whether formal or informal—whose activities impact the environment, infrastructure, and host communities, are held accountable.
“While appreciating the fact that Osun State is not increasing taxes, the objective is to ensure that all operators whose activities affect the environment and host communities contribute fairly to restoring and sustaining them,” he said.
However, participants at the session deliberated on various policy options and legislative proposals aimed at addressing mining-related environmental challenges and improving compliance across the sector.
The meeting reached a consensus on the need for a clear and comprehensive state policy on mining environmental management, alongside the development of a structured non-discriminating legislative framework to guide operators in the mining environment space of the state.
Stakeholders also agreed on the importance of sustained engagement with industry players and host communities to ensure effective implementation of the proposed reforms.
Meanwhile, initiative is expected to position Osun State as a model for balancing natural resource exploitation with environmental sustainability and national economic growth.
