Former President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Engr. Udengs Eradiri, has called on the Bayelsa State Government to establish a state-owned mining company to harness the economic potential of black sand deposits found across the state’s coastal communities.
Eradiri, a former Commissioner for Youth Development and later Environment in Bayelsa State, made the call in a post on his verified Facebook page amid growing controversy surrounding black sand mining activities in the Niger Delta.
According to him, Bayelsa should focus on deriving economic value from the mineral resource through proper regulation rather than treating the entire sector as a criminal enterprise.
“Time to set up Bayelsa State Mining Company. There is real money in the black sand, not to criminalise it. Zamfara, Osun and others are mining their gold and sharing with the Federal Government,” he wrote.
His remarks come against the backdrop of intensified enforcement against illegal black sand mining in Bayelsa. The Bayelsa State Government recently banned unauthorized mining activities in several coastal communities, citing environmental degradation, security concerns and revenue losses. The Nigerian Navy has also stepped up operations against illegal miners in Brass Local Government Area, intercepting boats conveying suspected illegally mined black sand and arresting suspects involved in the illicit trade.
Black sand has emerged as one of the most sought-after mineral resources in the Niger Delta in recent years. Although commonly regarded as ordinary beach sand, experts say the deposits often contain valuable heavy minerals such as ilmenite, rutile, zircon and magnetite, which are used globally in the production of titanium dioxide, steel, ceramics, paints, aerospace components, pigments and other industrial products.
The increasing international demand for these minerals has fuelled illegal mining activities across coastal communities in Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta and Akwa Ibom states, with operators reportedly exporting the raw materials through informal channels.
In Bayelsa, communities in Brass, Southern Ijaw and parts of Ekeremor have witnessed increased black sand extraction, raising concerns over coastal erosion, destruction of mangrove ecosystems, degradation of farmlands and fishing grounds, and the absence of tangible benefits to host communities.
Environmental experts have warned that indiscriminate mining along riverbanks and shorelines could accelerate coastal erosion and increase the vulnerability of already fragile Niger Delta communities to flooding and sea-level rise.
The Bayelsa State Government has consistently maintained that mining activities must comply with environmental regulations and obtain the necessary approvals from relevant authorities. Officials have also expressed concern that illegal operators deprive both the federal and state governments of legitimate revenue while exposing communities to environmental risks. �
Eradiri’s proposal is expected to reignite debate over whether Bayelsa should play a more direct role in the solid minerals sector.
Although ownership and regulation of mineral resources remain under the Exclusive Legislative List of the Nigerian Constitution and are principally managed by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, states can participate through licensed mining companies, joint ventures and investment partnerships with holders of mining licences.
Analysts believe that establishing a state-backed mining company could enable Bayelsa to formalise black sand exploitation, attract investors, create employment opportunities for youths, generate internally generated revenue and ensure greater environmental oversight while guaranteeing that host communities benefit from the resource.
The proposal also comes at a time when many resource-rich states are exploring solid minerals as alternative sources of revenue amid fluctuating oil earnings, with states such as Zamfara and Osun leveraging their gold deposits through partnerships with licensed operators in collaboration with the Federal Government.
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