Illegal Mining: NSCDC steps up nationwide crackdown

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has stepped up its crackdown on illegal mining, warning operators that violations of the country’s mining laws will attract prosecution.

Assistant Commandant of Corps John Attah, Commander of the NSCDC Mining Marshals, gave the warning in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday.

Attah said the corps had intensified enforcement operations across the country as part of efforts to restore order to the solid minerals sector and ensure that mining activities were carried out within the law.

He said the enforcement teams had recorded progress, particularly in the South-West, where operations were being strengthened to ensure that mining companies and other operators complied with established regulations.

The commander urged all mining operators to obtain the necessary approvals and operate within the regulatory framework, stressing that ignorance would not be accepted as a defence for breaking the law.

He said, “Ignorance of the law will never be an excuse. Every operator must ensure that mining activities are conducted within the ambit of the law.

“Those who choose to operate outside the regulatory framework will face the full weight of legal consequences.”

According to Attah, the current enforcement drive goes beyond the need to stop illegal mining. He said it was also designed to safeguard legitimate investors, increase government revenue and rebuild confidence in the solid minerals industry.

He noted that strict compliance with mining regulations remained essential if Nigeria was to exploit its mineral wealth in a safe, sustainable and economically beneficial manner.

Illegal mining has continued to pose serious challenges to Nigeria’s solid minerals sector, with the activities of unlicensed operators linked to revenue losses, environmental damage and unauthorised exploitation of mineral resources.

The latest operation forms part of the Federal Government’s broader attempt to transform the solid minerals industry and make it a stronger contributor to economic diversification.

Nigeria has substantial deposits of minerals such as gold, lithium, limestone, coal, bitumen and tin. Despite this potential, the sector has yet to achieve its full capacity because of illegal mining, insecurity, regulatory weaknesses and the activities of unlicensed operators.

The Federal Government has increasingly looked to the sector as a source of alternative revenue and foreign exchange as it seeks to reduce the country’s reliance on crude oil.

The intensified operations by the Mining Marshals also complement ongoing reforms by the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, which has been working to improve regulation, attract investment and curb illegal exploitation of the country’s mineral resources.

The ministry has consistently urged operators to comply with licensing and other statutory requirements, maintaining that stronger enforcement and protection for legitimate investors are crucial to unlocking the full economic value of Nigeria’s solid minerals.

Dear Vows