By Our Reporter
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Mining Marshals have intensified nationwide enforcement against illegal mining operators, warning offenders to comply with regulations or face prosecution.
The specialised unit said its teams, particularly in the South-West, were recording significant progress in sanitising mining operations and protecting Nigeria’s mineral resources.
Commander of the Mining Marshals, Assistant Commandant of Corps (ACC) John Onoja Attah, said the intensified operations were aimed at enforcing compliance with existing mining laws.
“Ignorance of the law will never be an excuse. Every operator must ensure that mining activities are conducted within the ambit of the law,” Attah said.
He warned that operators who deliberately violated the regulatory framework would face the full weight of the law.
“Those who choose to operate outside the regulatory framework will face the full weight of legal consequences,” the commander said.
Attah said the enforcement campaign was not only targeted at illegal miners but also intended to protect legitimate investors and strengthen confidence in the sector.
He said the operations would help curb economic sabotage, reduce revenue leakages and promote lawful, safe and sustainable mining practices across the country.
The Mining Marshals were established by the NSCDC as a specialised enforcement mechanism to support government efforts to combat illegal mining and protect mineral assets.
The renewed crackdown aligns with the Federal Government’s broader reforms aimed at repositioning the solid minerals sector as a major driver of economic diversification.
The Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has consistently stressed regulatory compliance, investor protection and the eradication of illegal mining as critical to attracting investment.
Observers said the renewed enforcement also reflected the strategic emphasis of the NSCDC Commandant General, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, mni, OFR, on protecting critical national assets.
Under Audi’s leadership, the Corps has strengthened institutional support for the Mining Marshals and expanded their role in tackling illegal exploitation of Nigeria’s mineral resources.
The Corps said it would continue collaborating with regulatory agencies and stakeholders to ensure that the country’s mineral wealth was exploited legally.
It stressed that the objective was to ensure that Nigeria’s mineral resources contributed maximally to economic development while being preserved for future generations.
The Mining Marshals’ message to illegal operators is clear: comply with the law or face enforcement.
