Youth Ambassador Calls on Bayelsa State to Re‑think Black‑Sand Ban in Kou Kingdom
Ndu Samuel
Yenagoa – In a passionate appeal issued on Thursday, December 11, 2025, KEKU Christopher, a self‑styled Youth Ambassador and “core son” of Kou Kingdom, urged Governor Douye Diri and senior officials to reconsider the recent ban on black‑sand (silicon) digging along the kingdom’s shoreline.
The ban, announced by the state government on Monday, December 8, 2025, prohibits unauthorized mining of “black sand” in coastal areas such as Foropa, Agge and Die‑ama, warning that any existing memoranda of understanding with miners are null and void ¹ ². The governor, represented by Deputy Governor Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, cited environmental and health risks, and warned community leaders that violations would attract arrest ³.
Speaking on behalf of the coastal residents of Kou Kingdom, Christopher reminded officials that the law should be enforced only when basic services—clean water, functional hospitals, equipped schools, reliable communications and proper walkways—are already in place for host communities. He highlighted past grievances: coastal erosion that swept away homes, the government’s silence during oil spills that crippled fishing, and the perception that the state’s own dredgers in Ofoni operate tax‑free while Kou’s sand is singled out.
“The ban is legal and enforceable, but only if the government first delivers the amenities we have been promised,” Christopher said. He demanded a share of benefits for the communities of Agge, Agge‑Palmbush, Orobiri, Ogbeintu, Amazor and Azamabiri, including social infrastructure, government appointments, civil‑service jobs, support for fishermen, a communications network, and assistance in legal battles against host companies that “enslave” locals.
He also called for a state‑backed skills‑training centre, financial loans for women entrepreneurs, and job placements for graduates, arguing that the lack of such programmes fuels illegal mining. “We are not asking for a free hand; we are asking for fair partnership and development that turns this natural resource into a blessing for the state,” he added.
The youth leader’s statement comes amid a broader crackdown on illegal mining across Bayelsa’s eight LGAs, with the environment commissioner, Hon. Ebi Ben‑Ololo, reiterating the need to follow existing mining regulations ¹. Community leaders from Foropa, Die‑ama and Odioma have already pledged support for the government’s enforcement drive ¹.
The appeal has sparked a fresh debate on equity in resource management, with observers watching whether the state will balance environmental protection with the developmental needs of its coastal communities.
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