The Bayelsa State Government has imposed a ban on all unauthorised and illegal extraction of mineral resources in communities across the state’s eight local government areas.
The government also cautioned community leaders against signing memoranda of understanding with illegal miners, warning that any such agreements would be considered null and void.
Governor Douye Diri made the announcement on Monday during a town hall meeting with community leaders, senior government officials, and other key stakeholders from Southern Ijaw, Brass, and Ekeremor local government areas in Yenagoa.
Represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Diri described the extraction of silicon, also known as “black sand,” in Foropa, Agge, Die-ama, and other coastal communities by outsiders as both illegal and a serious threat to public health and the environment.
He ordered the immediate halt of all mining activities across the state and imposed an embargo on communities signing MoUs with companies to mine minerals without government approval.
While noting that his administration is working to create a conducive environment for both local and foreign investors, he emphasised that businesses undermining the security and safety of the people and environment would not be tolerated.
The governor warned that community leaders violating the directive would face arrest and prosecution under state law.
According to him, illegal mining breaches environmental impact assessment regulations, poses a security risk, and deprives the state of rightful revenue.
He said, “The state has recently witnessed a dimension we are not comfortable with. There is a developing issue in Ekeremor, Brass and Southern Ijaw LGAs. People from outside the state are illegally mining silicon or black sand in our communities, without the authorisation of the government, and that has to stop forthwith.”
“It is both dangerous to the safety of our environment and health. Unchecked Illegal mining activities in the north contributed to the banditry that has engulfed several states in the north. We won’t allow that here. We learned that some communities have gone ahead to sign MoUs with these illegal miners. The government is angry with those communities for signing agreements with miners without consulting the relevant government institutions and agencies.
“Government is, therefore, directing the immediate suspension of all such illegal silicon or black sand mining activities across the state. An embargo is hereby placed on MoUs between communities and companies from within or outside the state. And every MoU already signed without government approval is hereby declared invalid and of no effect.”
The Commissioner for Environment, Ebi Ben-Ololo, stressed the importance of communities complying with the law passed by the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, which regulates mining activities and sets out the procedure for obtaining government authorisation.
Meanwhile, the Paramount Ruler of Foropa, His Royal Highness Olabai Olozulu, his Die-ama Community counterpart, His Royal Highness Baratuaipre Amaene, and the CDC Chairman of Odioma, Chief Forcebray Eketekpe, praised the government’s intervention and pledged support from their communities.
Recall that the Northern States Governors’ Forum recently recommended a six-month suspension of mining activities, following incidents of schoolchildren abduction and killings in some states. The forum identified illegal mining as a major driver of insecurity.
