The Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has intensified efforts to sanitise Nigeria’s mining sector through expanded collaboration with the Mining Marshals of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC.
This is broadens the security outfit’s responsibilities beyond its traditional enforcement operations against illegal miners.
Findings indicate that the ministry is increasingly deploying the Mining Marshals for investigations, intelligence gathering, compliance monitoring and operational fact-finding missions aimed at strengthening regulatory oversight and accountability within the solid minerals sector.
Industry stakeholders say the development reflects the Federal Government’s growing commitment to repositioning the mining industry as a more transparent, secure and investment-friendly sector capable of supporting economic diversification.
As part of the expanded operational framework, the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development recently carried out an operational tour of mining sites in parts of Northern Nigeria alongside the Mining Marshals.
The engagements were initiated under the leadership of the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, as part of efforts to strengthen monitoring, regulatory compliance and operational oversight across mining communities.
The inspection team, led on different occasions by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Faruk Yusuf Yabo, who represented the minister, visited several mining sites across Nasarawa State and Plateau State.
During one of the fact-finding missions, ministry officials alongside the Commander of the Mining Marshals, Attah John Onoja, visited a mining site allegedly involved in illegal mining activities.
Officials explained that the visit formed part of ongoing efforts to verify allegations of unlawful mining operations, assess compliance with existing mining regulations and obtain field-based information required for possible administrative, regulatory and enforcement actions.
The delegation also included senior ministry officials such as Frank Odoom, Imam A. Ganiyu, Andrew Zubiri and Ibrahim Abdulmajeed.
Officials noted that the operational tour reinforced the Federal Government’s commitment to building a more sanitised mining sector where host communities, investors, licensed operators and other stakeholders can function within a safer and better-regulated environment.
The engagements also provided an opportunity for mining communities to communicate concerns relating to illegal mining, environmental practices, insecurity and regulatory compliance directly to government authorities.
Observers believe the ministry’s decision to integrate the Mining Marshals into broader institutional and investigative activities signals a more coordinated national strategy aimed at tackling illegal mining and strengthening governance across Nigeria’s solid minerals value chain.
Under the leadership of Dele Alake, the ministry has continued to implement reforms targeted at curbing illegal mining, improving sectoral monitoring and restoring investor confidence in the nation’s mining industry.
The Mining Marshals, a specialised security architecture established to combat illegal mining and protect licensed operators, have continued to support the ministry’s reform agenda through intelligence support, operational collaboration and inter-agency coordination across mining communities nationwide.
