Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun has issued three executive orders, an official said on Saturday in Abeokuta.
Two of the three orders are establishing two new agencies, while the third restrains traditional rulers from signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on land in the state.
Mr Abiodun’s media aide Kayode Akinmade, in a statement, listed the agencies as the Ogun State Mineral Resources Development Agency and Ogun State Landscaping and Recreation Agency.
“In addition to the establishment of these two agencies, 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,” he said.
Mr Akinmade said the Mineral Resources Development Agency would establish a working relationship with host communities 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 in the area of environmental regeneration and restoration and through the provision of parks, gardens, and recreational centres state-wide to preserve the biodiversity and ecosystem of the environment,” he added.
The governor’s aide said the three executive orders take immediate effect.
Mr Akinmade said Executive Order Two was on the basis of the Ministry of Environment starting a massive and aggressive tree-planting campaign to complement the beautification and landscaping programmes.
”This is to ensure an environmentally sustainable, healthier, and beautiful society, and the agency shall administer, maintain and manage all designated parks and recreation centres in the state,” he said.
Mr Akinmade added that Executive Order Three bars traditional rulers in the state from entering into any form of MoU with reference to mining or any other land matters.
“The state has observed the current trend in which miners and investors circumvent regulations and government oversight by 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, with immediate effect, 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 forthwith refrain from issuing any form of consent letters for mining across the state.
“Any traditional institution or stakeholder in the institution who flouts this order shall be sanctioned in line with the provisions of the Kings and Chiefs’ Law and other relevant criminal statutes,” he stated.