Supreme Court Victory Spurs Bayelsa Waterways Takeover as Diri Moves Against Illegal Black Sand Mining

Governor Douye Diri has announced plans to establish a Bayelsa State Waterways Agency following a landmark Supreme Court judgment that affirmed the rights of Bayelsa and Lagos states to regulate and manage activities on their waterways.

The move, which could significantly alter the governance of waterways and natural resource exploitation in the oil-rich state, comes amid growing concerns over illegal black sand mining, environmental degradation and the unregulated movement of mineral resources through Bayelsa’s rivers and coastal areas.

Speaking during the 189th State Executive Council meeting at Government House, Yenagoa, on Wednesday, Diri said the state government was taking steps to assume greater control over activities on its waterways in line with the apex court’s ruling.

According to the governor, Bayelsa and Lagos states jointly challenged the Federal Government over the control of above-surface activities on their waterways and secured a favourable judgment at the Supreme Court.

“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 disclosed that the state’s Attorney-General had been directed to study the judgment and provide the legal framework for the establishment of a waterways agency that would oversee transportation, resource extraction and other activities conducted on Bayelsa’s waterways.

“I have directed the Attorney-General to study the judgment and we shall now set up our own waterways agency so that activities taking place on our waterways, including the transportation of black sand and other resources, will be properly regulated under the authority of the Bayelsa State Government,” he added.

Diri Cracks Down on Black Sand Mining

The governor used the occasion to issue a stern warning to individuals and companies engaged in illegal black sand mining, declaring that the state would no longer tolerate unregulated extraction of its natural resources.

While acknowledging the economic value of black sand and the need to create employment opportunities for youths, Diri stressed that all mining activities must comply with existing laws and environmental standards.

“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 said.

Diri warned that unchecked mining operations could trigger severe environmental consequences, including coastal erosion, destruction of aquatic ecosystems and further degradation of already fragile environments affected by decades of oil exploration.

“We are already suffering from the challenges of oil and gas exploitation, environmental pollution, environmental degradation and the loss of aquatic resources. We do not want a repeat of that experience through the unregulated mining of black sand.”

Foreign Operators Under Scrutiny

The governor revealed 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.

According to him, some of the operators initially carried out their activities without engaging government agencies or complying with regulatory requirements.

“They were taking black sand from the high seas and transporting it without proper certification, authorisation or regulation. Such activities cannot be allowed to continue,” he stated.

Diri subsequently directed the Ministry of Environment to intensify engagement with mining operators and develop policies that would encourage local processing and value addition instead of exporting raw materials with little economic benefit to the state.

New Law to Back Enforcement

In a move aimed at strengthening regulatory oversight, the governor announced plans to send an executive bill to the Bayelsa State House of Assembly to provide a legal framework for controlling black sand mining and waterways activities.

“Going forward, we intend to back these measures with law. It will no longer be a matter of executive directives alone. A bill will be prepared and taken to the House of Assembly so that all stakeholders can contribute, and when passed, everyone will be guided by the law,” he said.

The governor urged residents, particularly young people, not to rely on misinformation about government policies, assuring them that the administration’s objective was to ensure that Bayelsa’s natural resources are managed sustainably and translated into tangible benefits for citizens.

Power Expansion Behind Outages

On electricity supply, Diri appealed to residents to remain patient with the government over ongoing power interruptions linked to the expansion of the state’s independent power project.

He explained that recent outages were caused by infrastructure upgrades and disruptions in gas supply resulting from pipeline leakages.

The governor assured residents that the temporary inconveniences were necessary to improve electricity distribution and guarantee a more stable power supply across the state.

The planned establishment of the Waterways Agency and the proposed legislation on black sand mining signal what may become one of the most far-reaching environmental and resource management reforms undertaken by the Diri administration, as Bayelsa seeks to tighten control over its waterways and protect its fragile ecosystem from further degradation.