Mining Marshals Shift Focus to Protecting Legitimate Investors, Revenue

By Zainab Uzomah| Abuja

Mining Marshals have stepped up nationwide enforcement against operators violating mining regulations, with the specialised unit warning that illegal activities will increasingly attract prosecution.

The Commander of the Mining Marshals, Assistant Commandant of Corps John Onoja Attah, said the crackdown is not only aimed at stopping illegal mining but also at protecting legitimate investors and plugging revenue leakages in the solid minerals sector.

According to him, operators must ensure that their activities comply with existing laws, as ignorance of mining regulations would not shield offenders from legal consequences.

The renewed enforcement is particularly gaining momentum in the South-West, where operational teams are intensifying checks on mining activities as part of efforts to sanitise the sector.

The Mining Marshals were established by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to strengthen enforcement in the mining sector and support government efforts to curb illegal exploitation of the country’s mineral resources.

The Corps said the operation is also intended to improve investor confidence and promote lawful and sustainable mining, amid Federal Government efforts to make solid minerals a major source of economic diversification.

The NSCDC further said it would continue to work with regulatory agencies and other stakeholders to ensure Nigeria’s mineral resources are exploited legally and contribute meaningfully to national development.