BAYELSA BANS ILLEGAL MINING TO CURB INSECURITY

Read Time:2 Minute, 46 Second

BY JENN NOMAMIUKOR

The Bayelsa State Government has stopped all illegal and unauthorized mining of minerals in communities within the eight local government areas of the state.

They also told community leaders not to sign any agreements with illegal miners, warning that such deals are not valid and will not be accepted.

The governor, Douye Diri, made these statements on Monday during a town hall meeting with community leaders, senior government officials, and other important people from Southern Ijaw, Brass, and Ekeremor local government areas in Yenagoa.

Diri, who was represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, said that mining for silicon, also known as “black sand,” in places like Foropa, Agge, Die–ama, and other coastal areas by miners from outside the region is both illegal and a serious risk to the environment and public health.

He ordered the immediate stop of all mining activities in every part of the state and said that communities cannot sign agreements with companies to mine minerals without first talking to the government.

He explained that while his government is working to create a good environment for both foreign and local businesses to invest, it will not allow any company to harm the people or the environment.

The governor warned that anyone who breaks this order, especially community leaders, will be arrested and face legal action according to the state‘s laws.

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.”

The Commissioner for Environment, Ebi Ben-Ololo, said it’s important for communities to follow a law that was already passed by the Bayelsa State House of Assembly. This law sets out the rules and steps needed for doing mining with proper government permission.

The Paramount Ruler of Foropa, His Royal Highness Olabai Olozulu, along with his community leader, His Royal Highness Baratuaipre Amaene, and the CDC Chairman of Odioma, Chief Forcebray Eketekpe, praised the state government‘s action and promised support from their communities.

Earlier, the Northern States Governors’ Forum had asked for a six-month pause on mining activities.

This followed the abduction of school children and killings in some states.

They identified illegal mining as a key driver of insecurity.