Some communities in Oyo State would begin to experience loud noise by survey aircraft which would fly at low altitude while prospecting for mineral resources in the state beginning from this month.
The Director of Geophysics Department, Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, Kaka Imam, gave the indication while speaking on behalf of Olamilekan Adegbite, Minister of Mines and Steel Development recently.
He announced the plan in Ibadan, the state capital, explaining that the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, in collaboration with the state government, would conduct the planned airborne geophysical survey.
It was gathered that the exercise would be carried out in Akinyele, Lagelu, Egbeda, Ona- Ara, Ogbomoso North, Ogbomoso South, Ogo Oluwa, Surulere and Orire local government areas, among others.
He urged the residents of the communities not to panic or become apprehensive of loud noise by the survey aircraft.
Imam explained that the public awareness became necessary to forestall undue tension in some communities, in view of the pervasive insecurity in the country.
According to him, it is necessary to gather geological information that might lead to mineral discoveries in Oyo State despite the difficult terrain.
He explained that the exercise would entail the use of latest survey sensors to generate magnetic and radiometric data that would help to determine potential zones of mineralisation.
Assuring of the safety of the aerial survey, he stated that a passive technique would be used without sending signals into the ground.
Dimeji Ladapo, Director-General, Oyo State Mineral Development Agency, assured the residents of the communities that the exercise would pose no hazard.
Ladapo stressed that the exercise would, in the long run, expand the state’s economy and boost its internally-generated revenue.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that similar exercise would hold in 18 other states beginning from December.
