The Mining Marshals, Brigade of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has described the inauguration of the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on Illegal Mining as a “significant milestone”.
Speaking at the inauguration held at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, Commander of the Mining Marshals, John Onoja, who represented the NSCDC Commandant-General, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, hailed the committee’s formation as a critical step to fully take charge of Nigeria’s mineral sector.
“This committee signals a coordinated national front to curb illicit mineral exploitation and reclaim control over the solid minerals sector,” ACC Onoja stated.
He applauded the leadership of the House for its “unwavering commitment to addressing the challenges that threaten our lives, economic prosperity, and environmental sustainability as a nation.”
Onoja said illegal mining is more than an economic crime, but a national security threat that erodes legitimate investment and destabilises communities across Nigeria.
Onoja traced the formation of the elite Mining Marshals unit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that it was established through the collaboration of the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake; the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; and the NSCDC’s leadership.
“The enabling environment provided by this trio has strengthened the Corps’ capacity to sanitise the mining environment and protect legitimate investments,” he noted.
Onoja stated that the Mining Marshals have already made significant progress, disrupting illegal operations, arresting suspects, and seizing illicit minerals.
However, he acknowledged the scale of the challenge, emphasising that stronger legislative support and inter-agency cooperation are crucial to sustaining and scaling these efforts.
He urged the National Assembly to focus on five key areas:
1. Enhancing the enforcement powers of the Mining Marshals;
2. Strengthening inter-agency collaboration;
3. Increasing budgetary support;
4. Building a robust legal framework for prosecuting offenders;
5. Raising awareness in local communities about the dangers of illegal mining.
“We remain committed to this fight until we get the needed support of this House to do even better,” he declared.
“The NSCDC will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that our mineral resources are harnessed for the benefit of all Nigerians.”
Chairman of the newly inaugurated House Ad Hoc Committee on Illegal Mining, Sani Egidi Abdulraheem, delivered an address outlining the scale and urgency of the challenge.
“Illegal mining is a scourge that has had devastating effects on our nation, from the massive revenue losses to the criminality that undermines our security and rudely alters our environment,” he said.
Citing an estimated $9 billion in annual revenue losses due to illegal mining, Abdulraheem underscored the urgency of the committee’s mission:
“Our mission is clear: to block these revenue leakages, enforce transparency, and ensure that every naira from our natural resources contributes to the nation’s economic prosperity.”
For the Committee Chairman, the assignment goes beyond legislative routine. It’s a national mandate to secure Nigeria’s mineral wealth, dismantle corruption, and drive industrial transformation, notably by reviving the long-stalled Ajaokuta Steel Company.
“Ajaokuta stands as a glaring testament to the failure of our nation to fully harness the potential of our mineral resources,” he said, expressing confidence that with renewed political will, the steel plant could become a cornerstone of Nigeria’s industrial future.
Abdulraheem also highlighted the pivotal role of the NSCDC’s Mining Marshals, calling them “a crucial institutional instrument” in the nation’s fight against illegal mining.
“Their field intelligence, operational reach, and enforcement capacity make them indispensable to the committee’s work,” he noted.
Observers say this cross-institutional synergy, uniting the legislative, executive, and security arms of government, represents a new chapter in Nigeria’s mineral governance.
With coordinated action and renewed political will, stakeholders believe the country can finally break the cycle of exploitation that has plagued the sector for decades.
The event drew broad participation from government agencies, security forces, mining sector stakeholders, and civil society actors, reinforcing what many described as the emergence of a “new era of accountability” in Nigeria’s solid minerals industry.
*With reporting from VON
