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Bayelsa Warns Against Violation Of Anti-grazing Law
Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has warned that anyone who breaks the state’s Anti-Grazing Law will face serious punishment.
Diri said this is to protect the lives and property of the people.
The governor, represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, spoke on Wednesday at Government House, Yenagoa.
He met with local government chairmen, traditional rulers, and community leaders from six areas affected by herdsmen.
He explained that the law was made to prevent violent clashes between herders and farmers, which have caused deaths and destruction in different parts of the country.
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Diri condemned recent reports of a woman from the Amarata community in Yenagoa being raped by some herders on her farm and another woman being killed in Ogbia.
He urged traditional rulers and local government chairmen to take control of their areas and enforce the law to maintain peace.
The governor also called on youth leaders, community development committees, and women leaders to be alert and report any security threats to the authorities.
Diri instructed all local government chairmen to form enforcement committees for the Anti-Grazing Law and submit the names of committee members within three days to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government.
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He said, “By Friday, all local government chairmen must submit their anti-grazing committee members to the SSG’s office. We are in a semi-emergency situation and must act fast.
“From now on, traditional rulers must monitor their areas and report to the government. If you fail to report and we find out, you will be invited by the police. Keeping your community safe is your responsibility.”
He reminded everyone that the Anti-Grazing Law was still in place and that, despite his peaceful nature, he would not allow herdsmen to invade Ijaw land.
“No part of Ijaw land has ever been conquered. Our ancestors left us free land, and it is our duty to protect it and pass it on to our children the same way.”
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The Secretary to the State Government, Nimibofa Ayawei, stressed the importance of communities working together with the state government to stop open grazing, which is not allowed in the state.
The Chairman of the State Traditional Rulers Council, King Bubaraye Dakolo, and the Paramount Ruler of Igbogene Community, Prof. Augustine Ekein, advised the government to prevent herders from entering the state by strengthening security at entry points.
They also said reporting herdsmen’s presence was not enough. Strong action must be taken against those who break the law.
The Paramount Ruler of Edepie Community, Chief Shadrach Etidie, shared how his community suffered when the police punished them for trying to stop herders. He urged security agencies to support communities in enforcing the Anti-Grazing Law.
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JUST IN: Ooni Visits Olubadan-designate Ladoja In Ibadan
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, on Sunday, paid a visit to the Olubadan designate, Rashidi Ladoja, at his Bodija private residence in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The PUNCH reports that Oba Ladoja will be installed as the 44th Olubadan on Friday, September 26, 2025, following the demise of the 43rd Olubadan, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, who joined his ancestors on Monday, July 7, 2025, at the age of 90 years.
READ ALSO:Ladoja Coronation Date As 44th Olubadan Revealed
The two paramount rulers are currently exchanging pleasantries.
Details later…
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JUST IN: FG Revokes 1,263 Mineral Licenses Over Unpaid Fees
The Federal Government through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has announced a fresh revocation of not less than 1,263 mineral licenses.
These licenses, which will now be deleted from the Electronic Mining Cadastral System portal of the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office, include 584 exploration licenses, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licenses, and 470 small-scale mining leases.
The minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, gave the revocation announcement in a statement issued by his special assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, on Sunday in Abuja.
The minister explained that the directive was issued due to the companies’ failure to comply with the requirement of paying their annual service fees.
The latest revocation brings the total mineral titles revoked under the current administration to 3, 794 including,619 mineral titles revoked for defaulting in paying annual service fees and 912 for dormancy last year.
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By opening up the areas formerly covered by these licenses, the revocation is expected to spur fresh applications by investors looking for fresh opportunities.
The statement read, “Not less than 1,263 mineral licenses will be deleted from the portal of the Electronic Mining Cadastral system of the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office, MCO, following their revocation by the Federal Government.
“These include 584 exploration licenses, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licenses, and 470 small-scale mining leases.”
Approving the revocation following the recommendation of the MCO, the Minister said applying the law to keep speculators and unserious investors away from the mining sector would make way for diligent investors and grow the sector.
“The era of obtaining licences and keeping them in drawers for the highest bidder, while financially capable and industrious businessmen are complaining of access to good sites, is over.
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“The annual service fee is the minimum evidence that you are interested in mining. You don’t have to wait for us to revoke the license because the law allows you to return the license if you change your mind,” the minister said.
He warned that the revocation does not mean the Federal Government has pardoned the annual service debt owed by licensees, adding that the list will be forwarded to the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission to ensure that debtors pay or face the wrath of the law.
“This is to encourage due diligence and emphasise the consequences of inundating the license application processes with speculative activities.”
In the recommendation to the minister, the Director-General of the MCO, Simon Nkom, disclosed that there were 1,957 initial defaulters when the MCO published the intention to revoke licences in the Federal Government Gazette on June 19, 2025.
He informed the minister that the gazette was distributed to MCO offices nationwide to sensitise licencees and encourage them to comply within 30 days in compliance with the Minerals and Mining Act 2007 and relevant regulations.
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He observed that the delay in the final recommendation was due to complaints of several licensees who claimed to have paid to the Federal Government through Remita and had to be reconciled.
Earlier this month, the DG MCO had hinted that more mining licences would be revoked as part of ongoing efforts to sanitise the solid minerals sector and protect investors from fraudsters.
According to Nkom, the clean-up exercise, which covers expired, speculative, and inactive titles, is necessary to make room for genuine investors and ensure compliance with the law.
This is part of ongoing efforts at sanitising the sector since the inception of the Tinubu administration, and the salutary effects of the reforms are massive and manifest despite the attempts to push back by defaulters and their agents.
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