OAU denies issuing lease agreement to illegal miners
Comment
The administration of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, Osun State, has refuted any agreement to lease any space to unlicensed miners who work on the campus.
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It also revealed that the school administration had previously alerted the relevant federal government agencies to the illegal miners’ activities to stop their illegal activities.
Some operators claimed they had a license to operate, despite reports that illegal miners were operating in some parts of the school grounds, putting the lives of university staff and students in danger.
Abiodun Olarewaju, the university’s public relations officer, refuted in a statement released on Saturday that the authority had given any person, organization, or business permission to operate on its property.
It says, “Although the University has formally complained to the relevant government authorities about the illegal activities of these miners since learning of their activities, it is equally important to inform the general public that the claims made by these trespassers are wholly untrue.
The University therefore wants to use this platform to let the public know—especially our alumni and other interested parties—that it never granted permission for any person, organization, business, or association to apply for a license to mine on its property.
Furthermore, the University never signed a contract with a person, business, or organization to engage in mining operations on its property.
“We want to reassure the public, stakeholders, and concerned university members that the university is doing everything within its legal power to put an end to these trespassers’ activities. They pose a serious environmental risk to the university property and are extremely embarrassing.
“The Federal authorities have assured us that the University’s complaint is receiving the necessary attention.”
