The Bayelsa State Government has announced plans to establish a dedicated agency to regulate activities on its waterways and curb environmental degradation, particularly from illegal mining operations.
Governor Douye Diri made the disclosure on Wednesday June 24, 2026 during the 189th meeting of the State Executive Council at Government House, Yenagoa.
The move follows a landmark Supreme Court judgment that affirmed the rights of Bayelsa and Lagos states to control and manage activities on their respective waterways above the surface.
Diri said the state, in collaboration with Lagos, successfully challenged the Federal Government at the apex court, resulting in the favourable ruling. He added that the state Attorney-General is currently studying the judgment to provide the necessary legal framework for the new 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,” the governor stated. “At the end of the day, that partnership yielded results as the Supreme Court gave judgment in favour of both states.
“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.”
The governor issued a strong warning against unregulated black sand mining, stressing that while the government supports youth empowerment and economic opportunities, all resource extraction must be legal and sustainable.
He described black sand as a valuable natural resource that must be managed responsibly to prevent a repeat of the environmental damage caused by decades of oil and gas exploration in the state.
“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 that will at the same time prevent them from earning a living. We want our youths to work, but we want them to engage in legitimate activities,” Diri said.
The governor expressed deep concern over the activities of some operators, including foreigners, who have been extracting and transporting black sand from the state’s waterways and coastal areas without proper authorisation.
“Initially, some of these operators were not even engaging with government authorities. 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 said.
Diri directed the Ministry of Environment to intensify engagement with mining operators and explore opportunities for value addition within the state, rather than allowing raw materials to be carted away without benefits to the people of Bayelsa.
He announced that the government would back its measures with legislation, revealing plans to send a bill to the State House of Assembly for proper stakeholder input and passage into law.
The governor urged youths and the general public to rely on accurate information about government policies instead of misinformation, assuring them that the administration’s goal is to turn the state’s natural resources into a blessing rather than a curse.
He tasked the Commissioners for Information, Orientation and Strategy, and Environment to jointly educate the public on the government’s position on black sand mining and the responsible management of natural resources.
On the power situation, Governor Diri appealed for patience from residents as the state continues to expand its independent power project. He attributed recent outages to infrastructure upgrades and temporary gas supply disruptions caused by a pipeline leakage.
