Mining Marshals Tighten Grip On Illegal Mining Nationwide
With illegal mining draining government revenue, threatening legitimate investment and putting Nigeria’s mineral wealth at risk, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has stepped up nationwide enforcement against operators flouting mining regulations.
The Corps’ Mining Marshals are intensifying operations across the country, with teams in the South-West reporting progress in disrupting unlawful activities and enforcing compliance with the rules governing the exploitation of solid minerals.
Commander of the Mining Marshals, Assistant Commandant of Corps (ACC) John Onoja Attah, warned that operators would not be allowed to plead ignorance of the law.
“Ignorance of the law will never be an excuse,” Attah said, warning that those operating outside the regulatory framework would face prosecution.
The crackdown is part of wider efforts to clean up the solid minerals sector, protect legitimate investors, curb revenue leakages and strengthen government control over Nigeria’s mineral assets.
It also supports the reform agenda of the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, which is seeking to position mining as a major driver of economic diversification while tackling illegal exploitation.
The NSCDC, under Commandant General Prof Ahmed Abubakar Audi, said it would continue working with regulatory agencies and other stakeholders to protect critical national assets and ensure that mineral resources are exploited lawfully and sustainably.
For the Mining Marshals, the warning is straightforward: operators must comply with the law or face enforcement.
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