The Mining Marshals have intensified enforcement against illegal mining activities in Nasarawa State as part of efforts to strengthen compliance with mining regulations and protect the country’s mineral resources.
The operation, conducted across parts of the state, followed complaints of alleged illegal mining activities and was aimed at checking compliance by mineral title holders with approved mining coordinates.
The exercise involved officials of the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and local security stakeholders.
The authorities said the operation was also aimed at preventing unauthorised exploitation of mineral resources and ensuring that licensed operators conduct their activities within the limits of their approved titles.
The Mining Marshals were established by the Federal Government as part of efforts to combat illegal mining and strengthen enforcement within the solid minerals sector.
Commander of the Mining Marshals, Assistant Commandant of Corps Attah John Onoja, said the Nasarawa operation was part of ongoing efforts to enforce mining laws and promote compliance in mineral-producing communities.
Onoja said the operation was conducted in line with established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Act 2007, as amended.
He said the Mining Marshals would continue to enforce relevant laws and protect the country’s mineral resources in line with the policy direction of the Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi.
The authorities said the involvement of multiple security and regulatory agencies was intended to strengthen intelligence sharing and improve the detection of illegal mining activities.
Illegal mining has been linked to environmental degradation, loss of government revenue and insecurity in several parts of the country.
The latest operation is part of wider efforts by the Federal Government to formalise mining activities, protect legitimate operators and increase the contribution of the solid minerals sector to the Nigerian economy.
The Mining Marshals said enforcement operations would continue across mining areas to ensure compliance with existing regulations and safeguard Nigeria’s mineral resources.
