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The Federal Government’s determination to sanitize Nigeria’s mining sector received another boost as the Mining Marshals launched a coordinated enforcement and compliance operation across parts of Nasarawa State, targeting unlawful mineral exploitation and ensuring adherence to mining regulations.
The operation, undertaken in response to complaints of illegal mining activities, reflects a deliberate shift from reactive enforcement to proactive resource governance. Beyond arresting offenders, the exercise was designed to verify that legitimate mineral title holders operate strictly within their approved coordinates, thereby protecting mining assets, preventing resource theft, and promoting responsible mineral development.
The Mining Marshals, established as a strategic intervention of the Federal Government to curb illegal mining and restore order within the solid minerals value chain, deployed a multi-agency approach involving officials of the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, as well as local and community security stakeholders.
The operation underscores a growing recognition that illegal mining is not merely an economic crime but a national security concern with implications for environmental sustainability, community stability, government revenue, and investor confidence. By bringing together multiple security and regulatory institutions, authorities are strengthening intelligence-sharing mechanisms and enhancing the capacity to detect and dismantle illegal mining networks.
Leading the operation, Commander of the Mining Marshals, Assistant Commandant of Corps (ACC) Attah John Onoja, described the exercise as part of ongoing efforts to institutionalize lawful mining practices and reinforce regulatory compliance across Nigeria’s mineral-rich communities.
According to him, the operation was conducted in strict adherence to established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and derives its authority from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Act 2007 (as amended). He noted that the Mining Marshals remain resolute in enforcing mining laws and safeguarding the nation’s mineral resources in line with the policy direction of the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, mni, OFR.
Industry observers view the continued deployment of the Mining Marshals as a critical component of the Federal Government’s strategy to formalize the mining industry, attract responsible investment, protect licensed operators, and maximize the contribution of the solid minerals sector to Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda.
As enforcement activities intensify across mining corridors, the message from government is increasingly clear: the era of unchecked mineral exploitation is steadily giving way to a regime of accountability, compliance, and sustainable resource management.
