The Bayelsa State Government has banned all unauthorised and illegal mining of mineral resources in communities across the eight local government areas of the state.
The government also warned community leaders to desist from signing memoranda of understanding with illegal miners or face sanctions, declaring all such agreements as null and void and of no effect.
The state governor, Douye Diri, made the declarations on Monday during a town hall meeting with community leaders, top government officials, and other critical stakeholders from Southern Ijaw, Brass, and Ekeremor local government areas in Yenagoa.
Diri, represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, described the mining of silicon, also known as”black sand” at Foropa, Agge, Die-ama, and other coastal communities by miners from outside as both illegal and a dangerous threat to the safety of the environment and health of the people
He directed the immediate suspension of all such mining activities in all parts of the state and pronounced an embargo on communities from signing MoUs with companies, without consulting with government, to mine minerals in their areas.
He pointed out that while his administration is creating the enabling environment to attract both foreign and local investors, it would not tolerate any business undermining the security and safety of the people and their environment.
The governor warned that community leaders who violate the order would be arrested and prosecuted in line with the relevant laws of the state.
According to him, illegal mining not only violates environmental impact assessment laws, but also poses a serious security threat and robs the state of legitimate revenues.
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.”
On his part, the Commissioner for Environment, Ebi Ben-Ololo, stressed the need for communities to obey an extant law passed by the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, which regulates and outlines the procedure for carrying out mining activities with necessary government authorisation.
On their part, 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, commended the state government’s intervention and pledged the support of their respective communities.
Recall that the Northern States Governors’ Forum recently called for the suspension of mining activities for six months.
This followed the abduction of school children and killings in some states.
They identified illegal mining as a key driver of insecurity.
