The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Mining Marshals have intensified enforcement operations across the country in a renewed effort to tackle illegal mining and ensure compliance with regulations governing Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.
The specialised enforcement unit said its operational teams had stepped up activities in different parts of the country, particularly in the South-West, targeting mining operators who fail to comply with existing laws and regulatory requirements.
The Commander of the Mining Marshals, Assistant Commandant of Corps John Onoja Attah, warned mining operators that ignorance of the law would not protect them from prosecution.
He stressed that all mining activities must be conducted within the framework of the law, warning that operators who violate established regulations would face the consequences.
According to him, the intensified crackdown is aimed not only at curbing illegal mining but also at protecting legitimate investors, improving government revenue and restoring confidence in Nigeria’s solid minerals industry.
Attah noted that compliance with mining regulations is essential to ensuring the safe and sustainable exploitation of the country’s mineral resources.
Nigeria is endowed with commercially valuable minerals, including gold, lithium, limestone, tin, coal and bitumen. However, illegal mining and weak regulatory compliance have continued to undermine the sector’s potential.
The renewed enforcement drive aligns with the Federal Government’s broader efforts to reform the mining industry, attract investment and diversify the economy beyond its dependence on crude oil.
The NSCDC reiterated its commitment to working with relevant regulatory agencies and other stakeholders to protect mineral resources and ensure that mining operations comply with applicable laws.
It also warned that enforcement operations would continue nationwide, urging all operators to obtain the necessary approvals and conduct their activities legally.
