Isara-Remo Community Cries Out to Governor Abiodun, Assembly Over Land Sale, Quarry Abuse

ABEOKUTA – The Isara-Remo Socioeconomic Vanguard has petitioned Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, and the State House of Assembly alleging indiscriminate sale of land for quarrying purposes and illegal collection of fees by some politicians in the area.

The community leaders led by Mr. Taiwo Bakare and the Chairman, Isara-Remo Development Council, Mr. Benson Lawal on a protest to the Ogun State House of Assembly claimed that politicians, led by one Mr. Yinka Adeleye, are denying the community and Remo North Local Government legitimate income, exploiting quarry operations, and causing environmental degradation.

In a protest letter addressed to Governor Abiodun and copied to the Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Daisi Elemide said the community suffers air pollution, bad roads, and food insecurity due to the activities of quarry companies.

Addressing journalists shortly after submitting their petition signed by 25 community leaders at the Ogun State House of Assembly on Thursday, the Chairman, Isara Socioeconomic Vanguard, Mr. Taiwo Bakare urged Governor Abiodun to investigate the compliance of quarry operations with the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007, probe illegal fee collection, and ensure quarry operators comply with environmental laws and host community obligations.

He highlighted the deplorable state of the Isara-Ago-Iwoye road, caused by heavy-duty trucks, and warns of potential health risks, including asthma, lung and skin cancer, and food insecurity.

According to him, the community has suffered neglect and exploitation, with quarry operators refusing to execute Community Development Agreements which sparked fears of social discontent and voter apathy.

“They are holding Remo North Local Government by the jugular threatening whoever cared to challenge their authority. This act if not checked may adversely affect the chances of Your Excellency again at the 2027 National Assembly Election.

“For several years, our community has suffered utter neglect, intimidation, and unfair treatment at the hands of quarry operators and their collaborators. Despite being the host community, Isara had not meaningfully benefitted from the activities of the quarry companies. In total defiance to the provisions of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007, the quarries have refused to execute Community Development Agreement with fara as the host community.

“The Community presently suffers air pollution and environmental degradation and bad roads caused by the heavy duty trucks plying the road day and night. If the activities of quarries are not properly regulated by relevant agencies of government, we may be having high cases of asthma, lung and skin cancer in addition to untold degradation of our vast arable land and food insecurity in Remo North Local Government.

“Ogun State Government may need to come hard on families that are indiscriminately selling lands to Chinese and other investors without caring about environmental impact of their actions. Families selling land for quarrying must be made to seek approval from Ministry of Solid Mineral Development in the state.”

Also speaking, the Chairman, Isara Development Council, Mr. Benson Lawal appealed to Governor Abiodun to intervene, citing their faith in government commitment to justice and good governance, and seeking protection of their rights and dignity.

He posited that the activities of the Chinese company is impacting on the agricultural produce and development of Isara-Remo communities.

“We are not gaining anything as regard Corporate Social Responsibility of the quarry companies. We have had series of meetings with the miners, so that we can sign the Community Development Agreement (CDA) but all efforts yielded no result.

“Local Government is not benefiting, state government is not benefiting, the host community is not benefiting as well. All villages are under Isara, no village exist in isolation. And based on the Mineral resources and mining Act 2007, the mining companies are to assist the community on social amenities such as schools, hospitals, maintenance of roads, provisions of street light and security, none of these, were done. We are not asking for money, but do the needful by developing our community.”

He called for immediate investigation of the compliance of the operations of all quarries in Peteku and Odo areas of Isara with the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007 with further investigation on the illegal printing and issuance of receipts as well as collection of unauthorized levies by any individual, family, or group.

Mr. Lawal enjoined the state government to ensure that quarry operators strictly comply with environmental laws, Community Development Agreements, and host community obligations.

“We are law abiding citizens, we are appealing to His Excellency to protect the rights, dignity, and safety of Isara indigenes, who can no longer endure exploitation in their ancestral land.

“Establish a clear and transparent framework for quarry operations that will prevent further abuse and restore peace in the community.

“The road linking Isara to Ago-Iwoye is now in deplorable state as a result of the quarrying activities. This is impacting food security in the Local Government as farmers are increasingly finding it difficult to bring their farm produce to the market. Most of the produce go bad before farmers get vehicles to transport their produce and when vehicle eventually comes, the transportation is done at a very high price.

“Another thing that we are inviting Your Excellency to address, is the illegal and provocative action being perpetrated by some bad eggs as said earlier. We learnt that Mr. Yinka Adeleye and his cohorts are suffocating Remo North Local Government’s economy through collection of unauthorized fees from trailer drivers, in addition to the officially recognized government levies and receipts.

“Your Excellency, these activities are carried out without regard for the welfare of Isara people, and repeated complaints by community members have yielded no meaningful intervention. The situation has now reached a crescendo, and continued silence or inaction may promote social discontent and voter apathy during elections.”