Strengthening Nigeria’s Mining Marshals: A Step Towards Sector Reform
Nigeria has recently taken a significant step towards strengthening its mining marshals by inaugurating 350 new operatives, symbolizing the federal government’s steadfast commitment to reforming the mining sector.
The Passing Out Parade, held at the NSCDC headquarters, was attended by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake. Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Mary Ogbe, the Minister commended the collaboration between the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and the Ministry of Interior, particularly praising Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for their relentless efforts in combating illegal mining.
According to a statement by Segun Tomori, the Special Assistant on Media to the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Alake emphasized the positive impact of the mining marshals in curbing illegal mineral haulage and the operations of unlicensed miners across the nation.
The initiative to reinforce the mining marshals began with the inauguration of the first batch of 2,220 operatives. This has resulted in the arrest of over 200 individuals involved in illegal mining, with 133 cases currently undergoing prosecution. Additionally, illegally mined minerals have been seized and forfeited to the federal government.
During the Passing Out Parade, Dr. Alake expressed confidence that the second batch of operatives will significantly enhance the operational effectiveness of the squad. He also outlined plans to foster collaboration between mining marshals and Federal Mines Officers (FMO) throughout the country, with the aim of intensifying sector sanitization and bolstering investor confidence, ultimately leading to increased investments and development in the mining industry.
Dr. Abubakar Audi, the NSCDC Commandant-General, revealed that the new operatives underwent an extensive 8-week training program to equip them to bolster the operations of the mining marshals and intensify efforts against illegal mining activities nationwide.
In his address to the new marshals, Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, stressed the importance of sustained collaboration between the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and the Ministry of Interior, emphasizing the need for continual training and deployment to ensure comprehensive coverage of the country’s vast mining areas.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo further underlined the progress made thus far as a testament to the efficacy of the collaboration. With the addition of the second batch of operatives, there is now a greater number of personnel on the ground. However, he emphasized the importance of ongoing training and deployment to safeguard mining areas and maximize the nation’s solid mineral resources for economic development.
The induction of the new operatives brings the total number of specially trained and equipped mining marshals deployed nationwide to 2,570. This significant increase in manpower is a vital step towards achieving comprehensive reform in the mining sector and ensuring sustainable economic growth for Nigeria.
