The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Monday, ordered the closure of a facility used by suspected illegal miners to process and package lithium out of the state.

The governor ordered the closure of the facility, which was originally a factory meant for recycling batteries and tires.

He equally ordered the arrest of four persons suspected to be operating at the site, noting that they operated against the approved licence secured from the government for business operations in the state.

Makinde, who was on an unscheduled inspection tour to the factory site at Idi Ayunre, in the Oluyole Local Government in Ibadan, the state capital, said that a preliminary investigation revealed that the factory was being operated by some Chinese.

He added that though the Federal Government issued an operational licence to the miners in line with constitutional provision, there will always be security threats and concerns when states do not have an input in the issuance of mining licences.

The governor explained that the factory and its operators have contravened the Executive Order 001 of 2024 on the safe handling of harmful substances, noting that the arrested factory workers would be prosecuted accordingly.

The governor also said that the state government would take over the factory facility through a court process, until it gets to the bottom of the matter.

Makinde equally expressed concerns with the retention of mining in the Exclusive Legislative List, stating that there will always be issues of security threats when states do not have input in the issuance of mining licences.

He added that though Oyo State remained open to investors and will always do everything to make businesses thrive, those businesses must obey local laws and regulations.

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