Indiscriminate dredging and mining in Rivers State without necessary approval by relevant institutions of government will  soon attract severe consequences.
This is because, the state government has now been empowered to check the excesses of illegal dredgers and miners whose unwholesome activities tended to undermine the State’s environmental, physical development and planning laws.
For this purpose, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arch Mohammed Alusa Sada inaugurated the Rivers State Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO), October 10, this year, with a charge to properly manage and coordinate all Mining and dredging activities in the State with a view to preserving the Mining environment.
Addressing the committee shortly after in Abuja, the Minister described the event as a major Milestone as it tends to actualize government’s projection of diversifying the economy by placing the mining and dredging industry in its proper perspective.
The Minister explained that the Federal Government decided to involve Stakeholder States in the enterprise, even though mining and dredging still remains on the exclusive lost in the 1999 Constitutions as a clear demonstration of the Federal government’s belief in inter-dependence of all tiers of governments.  It also underscores the need for Corporation and collaboration between various tiers of government.
The Minister expressed the hope that the Rivers State Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO) would strive towards bridging the existing gap in Solid Mineral development in the State, and urged the State government to assist the committee to achieve set targets.
The Committee which has as its Chairman the State’s Commissioner for Environment, Dr. NyemaWeli also has as members, Representatives of Federal Ministries of Mines and Steel Development, Engr Peter N. Ikebukwu, of Environment, Engr. Uzono Raymond, of Agriculture, Mr. Daniel N, Ogbungbada, of Surveyor General, Rivers State, Surv. Gaius Assor of Rivers State Min. of Lands and Survey, D.J. Amieofori, of Federal Min. of Mines and Steel Development, Engr. Ibem U. Ibem and a representative of the State Environment Commissioner, Sir Lawrence Igwe.
In his acceptance Speech, Dr. Weli represented by Sir IgweIsment the indiscriminate issuance and authorisation of  sand dredging and laterite Mining Licenses and permits to individuals and corporate bodies contrary to the state environmental, Physical development and Planning Law of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).
Promising to halt the trend, Dr. Weli said henceforth anyone found to align with MIWA to devastate and violate the extant laws of the Federal and State Governments will be made to face the full weight of the law.
He used the forum to explain that the recent judgment of the Federal High Court Lagos, being flaunted by NIWA to justify its unwholesome practices, dwells on who collects revenue from water vessels and boats on our inland waterways, and has no relevance whatsoever with dredging or Mining.
Instead, the Environment Committee’s ‘mandate is strengthened by provisions of the Nigerian Mineral and Mining Act 2007, the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Regulations 2011, and in particular, section 20 (&) (1) and sections 154-229 of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Regulations, 2011.
Dr. Weli then called on operators to ensure that they used this fresh opportunity to secure authentic permits and Mining Leases grounded in environmental compliance and based on the Mining Act and other regulations.

Disabled persons displaying at the APC Mega Rally in Port Harcourt, last Saturday