The Bayelsa State Government has banned all unapproved and illegal mining of mineral resources in communities across the eight local government districts of the state.
Additionally, the government declared all memorandum of understanding with illicit miners to be void and ineffective, warning community leaders not to sign them or risk sanctions.
The statements were made by state governor Douye Diri on Monday at a town hall meeting with important stakeholders from Yenagoa’s Southern Ijaw, Brass, and Ekeremor local government areas, as well as community leaders and high-ranking government officials.
According to Diri, represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, explained the mining of silicon, sometimes referred to as “black sand,” at Foropa, Agge, Die-ama, and other coastal settlements by foreign miners is unlawful and poses a serious threat to the environment and health of the people.
He declared an embargo on communities from signing Memorandums of Understanding with firms to mine minerals in their areas without first informing the government, and he ordered the immediate suspension of all such mining operations throughout the state.
He emphasized that although his administration is establishing favorable conditions to draw in both domestic and foreign investors, it will not put up with any business jeopardizing the safety and security of the populace and their surroundings.
The governor warned to arrest and prosecute community leaders who disobeyed the directive in accordance with the relevant laws of the state.
In compliance with the state’s applicable law, the governor threatened to detain and prosecute community leaders who disregarded the order.
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.”
Ebi Ben-Ololo, the Commissioner for Environment, emphasized that communities must abide by an extant law established by the Bayelsa State House of Assembly. This law governs and describes the process for conducting mining operations with the required government authorization.
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, praised the state government’s intervention and promised the support of their respective communities.
Recall that a six-month mining ban was recently demanded by the Northern States Governors’ Forum.
