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From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has warned illegal miners of black sand in Bayelsa.
Diri, who spoke during the 189th meeting of the state executive council in Government House, Yenagoa, declared that illegal and unregulated black sand mining activities in the state would not be tolerated.
While stressing that the government supports youth employment and economic opportunities, he emphasised that all resource extraction must be carried out legally and sustainably.
He noted that black sand is a valuable natural resource deposited in Bayelsa and must be managed responsibly to avoid repeating the environmental devastation caused by decades of oil and gas exploration.
The governor expressed concern that indiscriminate mining of black sand could lead to severe environmental consequences, including erosion, environmental degradation and the destruction of coastal ecosystems.
“There is no government, particularly the government of Bayelsa, that is doing so much to engage our youths and create opportunities for them to work that will at the same time prevent them from earning a living. We want our youths to work, but we want them to engage in legitimate activities.
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“We are already suffering from the challenges of oil and gas exploitation, environmental pollution, environmental degradation and the loss of aquatic resources. We do not want a repeat of that experience through the unregulated mining of black sand,” he said.
He stated that some operators, including foreigners, had been extracting and transporting black sand from the state’s waterways and coastal areas without the necessary authorisation from either the federal or state governments.
“Initially, some of these operators were not even engaging with the government authorities. They were taking black sand from the high seas and transporting it without proper certification, authorisation or regulation. Such activities cannot be allowed to continue.”
He, therefore, directed the Ministry of Environment to intensify engagement with mining operators and explore opportunities for value addition within the state rather than allowing raw materials to be extracted and exported without tangible benefits to the Bayelsa people.
“Going forward, we intend to back these measures with law. It will no longer be a matter of executive directives alone. A bill will be prepared and taken to the House of Assembly so that all stakeholders can contribute and when passed, everyone will be guided by the law.”
He urged the youths and members of the public to seek accurate information about the government policies rather than relying on misinformation, assuring them that the administration’s objective is to ensure that Bayelsa’s natural resources become a blessing rather than a source of environmental and economic challenges.
He directed the Commissioners for Information, Orientation and Strategy, and their Environment counterpart to collaborate in educating the public on the government’s position regarding black sand mining and the responsible management of natural resources in the state.
