The Bayelsa State Government has launched a sweeping clampdown on the growing wave of illegal mining across its communities, issuing a direct order that all unauthorized mineral extraction must stop at once. The announcement, made during a town hall meeting in Yenagoa, delivered one of the strongest warnings yet to community leaders accused of entering unapproved agreements with miners operating outside the law.
Governor Douye Diri, represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, said the state will no longer tolerate the mining of black sand, also known as silicon, in Foropa, Agge, Die-ama and other coastal communities. He described the influx of miners from outside the state as a dangerous intrusion that threatens both the environment and public health.
He declared that no community may sign memoranda of understanding with any company for mining activities without government approval. Agreements already signed were dismissed as invalid. The Governor said Bayelsa welcomes investment but will not allow enterprises that compromise security or expose communities to environmental hazards.
He warned that any traditional ruler or community leader who disobeys the order faces arrest and prosecution. He noted that illegal mining flouts environmental laws, weakens security and deprives the state of due revenue. He added that similar unchecked activities contributed to the rise of armed groups in parts of northern Nigeria and must not be allowed to take root in Bayelsa.
The Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Ebi Ben-Ololo, urged all communities to respect the law regulating mining operations and to work with the government to prevent further violations. Traditional rulers from Foropa, Die-ama and Odioma expressed support for the state’s intervention and pledged to ensure compliance.
The meeting drew senior state officials, including the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, members of the legislature, council chairmen, security commanders, traditional authorities and environmental experts.
