Bayelsa To Establish Waterways Agency As Diri Cracks Down On Illegal Black Sand Mining

The Bayelsa State Government has announced plans to establish a state waterways agency to regulate activities on its waterways and curb environmental degradation, following a landmark Supreme Court judgment affirming the state's rights over above-surface waterway management.

Governor Douye Diri disclosed this on Wednesday during the 189th meeting of the State Executive Council at Government House, Yenagoa.

The governor said the proposed agency would oversee activities on the state's waterways, including the transportation and extraction of black sand and other natural resources, in line with the Supreme Court ruling secured jointly by Bayelsa and Lagos states against the Federal Government.

According to him, the state's Attorney-General has been directed to study the judgment and provide the legal framework necessary for the establishment of the agency.

"Our government joined hands with that of Lagos State and we were in court with the Federal Government over the control of our waterways. At the end of the day, that partnership yielded results as the Supreme Court gave judgment in favour of both states," Diri said.

He added that the new agency would ensure that activities taking place on Bayelsa's waterways are properly regulated under the authority of the state government.

The governor also issued a strong warning against illegal and unregulated black sand mining, stressing that while his administration supports youth employment and economic opportunities, resource extraction must be conducted lawfully and sustainably.

Diri described black sand as a valuable natural resource deposited in Bayelsa and cautioned that indiscriminate mining could trigger 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. We want our youths to work, but we want them to engage in legitimate activities," he stated.

The governor expressed concern that some operators, including foreign nationals, had been extracting and transporting black sand from the state's waterways and coastal areas without obtaining the necessary approvals from either federal or state authorities.

He noted that such activities could no longer be tolerated, emphasizing the need for proper certification, authorization and regulation.

Diri directed the Ministry of Environment to intensify engagement with mining operators and explore opportunities for processing and adding value to black sand within the state, rather than allowing the raw material to be exported without meaningful benefits to Bayelsa people.

He further revealed that the government intends to strengthen the regulatory framework through legislation.

"Going forward, we intend to back these measures with law. A bill will be prepared and transmitted to the House of Assembly so that all stakeholders can make their contributions, and when passed, everyone will be guided by the law," he said.

The governor urged residents, particularly young people, to seek accurate information about government policies and avoid misinformation, assuring them that the administration remains committed to ensuring that the state's natural resources contribute positively to economic development without compromising the environment.

He also directed the Commissioners for Information, Orientation and Strategy, and Environment to collaborate on public sensitization efforts regarding black sand mining and responsible natural resource management.

On electricity supply, Diri appealed to residents for patience over ongoing disruptions linked to the expansion of the state's independent power project.

He explained that temporary outages and delays were caused by infrastructure upgrade requirements as well as recent gas supply disruptions resulting from pipeline leakages.

The governor assured residents that the government remains committed to improving power distribution and delivering sustainable electricity supply across the state.