By Hauwa Gidado, Abuja
Nigerians have been encouraged to support the newly established Mining Marshals – a security force tasked with safeguarding Mining sites across the country.
The Assistant Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps NSCDC who doubles as the Commander of the Mining Marshals, Mr. Attah Onoja, made the call during an exclusive interview with VON in Abuja, the Nation’s capital.
Mr. Onoja emphasized the Mining Marshals’ commitment of enforcing existing laws and working collaboratively with other law Enforcement Agencies and stakeholders to secure Mining sites.
“Nigerians should see the Mining Marshals as a Nigerian project, not an individual project, not a project of the Minister of Solid Minerals but a Nigerian project to save the mining sector, because mining sector needs to be revived, the Mining Marshals is a critical unit established by the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Dr. Abubakar Audi.
He also expressed Force’s readiness to apprehend anybody undermines the Mining Regulations in the country.
“The Mining marshals will stop at nothing in ensuring full compliance to existing laws governing mining regulations in Nigeria and whoever is found wanting regardless of position, the law will take its course.
“It’s a rare privilege to be on national assignment and we will have to account for this opportunity, so any body meeting us should know that we coming with this mind set to make mining sector safer”.
The Commander explained that, Mining Marshals were drawn from the Thirty-Six States and the Federal Capital Territory commands of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), with the primary responsibility of combating the illegal mining operations.
“From the commencement of operation the strength of Mining Marshal started 2,220 operatives cutting across the whole country in all the States, more operatives are coming in ,we are still on the phase of mobilising more men. All the State of the federation will be adequately taken care of in the terms of Mining marshals.”
Beginning
Speaking on the idea behind setting up of the Mining Marshals, ACC Onoja said “the Mining Marshals came up as a result of a pressing need of Nigeria as a nation to take adequate care of the mining sector and part of the core mandate of the Nigerian Civil and Defence Corps is protection of critical national assets and infrastructure. To this end there will be no agency that will be better positioned or poised to delivering such assignment or mandate other than NSCDC”.
He further said that the proactivness of the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Dr. Abubakar Audi, mni in a bid to strengthen its role brought about the Mining Marshals in collaboration with the Ministry Of Solid Minerals Development
“Before now NSCD has been responsible for protecting National Critical Assets and infrastructure; it has a specialised unit that will meet a pressing demand, talking about deriving revenue from the mining sector, the activities of illegal miners in Nigeria.
“So NSCD came up with the idea of setting up the Mining Marshals and on the 1st of March (2024). It was officially inaugurated by the honourable minister of interior, Olubumi tunji-Ojo that marked the occasion of civil defence day in Nigeria.
“The Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Oladele Alake decided that what NSCDC was doing is in line with his seven-point agenda of the Ministry of Solid Minerals, to address the illegal mining activities with the aid of Mining police that led to the official unveiling of this particular force (Mining Marshals).”
Strategies
Mr. Onoja said, the Mining Marshals were using effective strategies to prevent illegal mining and mineral theft.
“The scope of our operation is principally anchored on ensuring full compliance to the existing laws. Talking about Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act of 2007 and Mining regulations of 2007 and what also contained in this document are the relevant provisions that must be complied with by all intending investors in the sector or miners or companies or individuals who want to carry out one or two activities within the Mining sector, to ensure enforcement of these regulations to all miners’’.
“We have intelligent personnel that handle the illegal mining operators depending on the nature of the case, sometimes we write letters of invitation to the companies and give them specific time and they are expected to cooperate with our investigative activities.
Collaboration & Cooperation
Speaking on how the Mining Marshals collaborate with other Law Enforcement Agencies, Mining communities and other stakeholders to achieve our mandate, the commander said, synergy, intelligence sharing have been yielding fruits.
According to a report published by the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), Nigeria is rich in solid mineral deposits, including gold, limestone, coal, iron ore, and tantalite, among others. However, despite this abundance, the sector remains largely underdeveloped and underutilized.
Observers say that the creation of the Mining Marshals and the progressive reforms being undertaken by the Ministry of Solid Minerals will help Nigeria unlock the full economic benefits of its rich and diverse solid mineral resources.