OAU Denies Granting Lease Agreement to Illegal Miners in Ile-Ife
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, has denied allegations of granting licenses for mining activities on its land.
Chris Oyeoku Okafor 
The Management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), located in Ile-Ife, Osun State, has refuted claims of issuing licenses to individuals, groups, or companies for mining activities on the university's land. Recent reports highlighted illegal mining activities on parcels of land belonging to the university in Ile-Ife.
Abiodun Olarewaju, the Public Relations Officer of the university, issued a press statement addressing the matter. Olarewaju clarified that OAU did not provide consent to any entity to obtain licenses for mining operations on its land.
"It has come to the knowledge of the University Administration that some individuals, groups, and/or companies have made the claim that they have licenses to carry on mining activities on the University land at Ile-Ife, and that they have the consent of the University, in the form of leases and agreements, in that respect," the statement read.
Despite the university's awareness of the illegal activities, formal complaints have been lodged with the appropriate government authorities. Olarewaju emphasized that the claims made by the trespassers are entirely false.
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The statement reiterated that OAU did not authorize any individual, group, company, or association to obtain licenses for mining activities on its land. Furthermore, the university has not entered into any agreements with entities for mining purposes.
"We wish to assure the concerned members of the University, stakeholders, and members of the general public that the University is taking all lawful steps to stop the activities of these trespassers, which constitute devastating environmental hazard to the University estate and are most embarrassing," the statement emphasized.
Additionally, OAU has received assurances from federal authorities that the university's complaint is being given due attention.
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The university's stance underscores its commitment to upholding environmental standards and protecting its estate from unauthorized activities. OAU remains resolute in its efforts to address the issue and ensure the integrity of its land and resources.
