Bayelsa State would soon establish an agency to regulate activities that cause erosion and other environmental hazards on its waterways.

This followed the recent Supreme Court judgment affirming the rights of Bayelsa and Lagos states over the control and management of above-the-surface activities on waterways.

Governor Douye Diri disclosed this yesterday during the 189th meeting of the state executive council in the Government House, Yenagoa.

Diri said both states successfully challenged the Federal Government at the apex court over the control of their waterways, resulting in the landmark judgment.

According to him, the state’s Attorney-General was studying the judgment and would provide the legal framework for the establishment of a state waterways agency.

He said: “Our government joined hands with Lagos State, and we were in court with the Federal Government over the control of our waterways. In the end, 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 warned against illegal and unregulated black sand mining in the state, stressing that while the government supports youth employment and economic opportunities, all resource extraction must be carried out legally and sustainably.

He noted that black sand is a valuable natural resource deposited in Bayelsa and must be managed responsibly to avoid repeating the environmental devastation caused by decades of oil and gas exploration.