The Oyo State Government and Miners whose Cadastral Line encroaches Opara Forest Reserve have agreed on an actual ground rent of Two Thousand Five Hundred Naira per hectare per year with effective date from year 2020.
This was disclosed in a release issued by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources after a meeting the Ministry held with some members of komu Miners Association on 25th May,2023.
The release noted that the meeting which was held in the Conference room of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs M.E Adeleye had in attendance Director of Forestry Department and other relevant officials of the Ministry, Legal Counsel from Ministry of Justice, members of the Komu Miners Association as well as erstwhile Honourable Commissioner of the Ministry.
According to the release, the Miners’ Association in 2018 had resolved for out-of-court settlement when their attempt to seek relief from a Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan over the quit notice issued to them by the state government failed.
The release added that due to the commitment of the State government at creating a friendly environment for Miners in the state, the Ministry decided to set up an inter-ministerial committee which is saddled with the responsibility of finding a lasting solution to the lingering issue.
The release further explained that both parties expressed their satisfaction at the resolution reached at the meeting held on 25th May, 2023 while the legal counsels for both parties were mandated to work on the payment schedule.
