Pix: ACC John Onoja Attah

Dr. Ekanem Ekpenyong, a solid minerals consultant, writes in from Ogoja, Cross River State.

In the evolving discourse on Nigeria’s economic diversification, one name is steadily carving a reputation that commands attention: Assistant Commandant of Corps (ACC) John Onoja Attah. As Commander of the NSCDC Special Mining Marshals, Onoja has become a central figure in efforts to safeguard Nigeria’s solid minerals sector; a space that for decades has been riddled with illegal exploitation, revenue leakages, and widespread environmental degradation.

For decades, Nigeria’s economy rested on crude oil, while the solid minerals sector remained largely ignored. Yet, experts insist the country’s vast untapped mineral wealth could rival, or even surpass, oil in driving sustainable revenue. That promise has, however, been stifled by the menace of illegal mining. It is against this backdrop that ACC John Onoja’s intervention stands out as both strategic and visionary.

For many years, Nigeria’s mining sector was a textbook example of institutional neglect. Illegal miners, often backed by powerful cartels, exploited resources with little or no regulation. Government agencies, starved of capacity or compromised by corruption, struggled to enforce rules. This situation created a parallel economy where billions of dollars’ worth of minerals left the country annually without documentation or payment of royalties.

Communities that ought to have prospered from mining activities were instead abandoned to desolation. In place of schools, hospitals, and employment opportunities, they were bequeathed yawning pits, contaminated rivers, and degraded farmlands. For illegal miners, environmental standards were of little consequence; their reckless methods stripped ecosystems that had taken centuries to evolve. The absence of effective oversight ensured that the devastation remained both pervasive and largely invisible in official records.

Worse still, the sector became a hotbed of insecurity. Armed groups discovered that illegal mining could be more lucrative than crude banditry. Minerals became a new form of blood money, funding violence and fueling the proliferation of arms. This nexus between illegal mining and insecurity compounded Nigeria’s national challenges, threatening both economic stability and internal security.

Revenue losses were staggering. Reports suggested that Nigeria was losing billions of naira monthly through under-declared or smuggled minerals. This hemorrhage of wealth undermined government budgets, deprived states of royalties, and weakened the federal push for diversification. Instead of being a pillar of growth, the mining sector became a drain on national integrity.

To make matters worse, foreign interests took advantage of Nigeria’s lax regulatory environment. In remote mining fields, minerals such as gold, tantalite, and columbite were ferried across porous borders into neighboring countries, where they were rebranded and sold on international markets. Nigeria bore the scars of exploitation while others reaped the rewards of its stolen resources.

This was the chaotic backdrop against which ACC John Onoja Attah stepped in with corrective measures that have changed the trajectory of mining security. By closing loopholes, enforcing compliance, and dismantling the structures of criminal mining, he has restored confidence in the system and ensured that solid minerals increasingly serve their rightful purpose by strengthening government revenue and fueling national development.

By deploying innovative security strategies, robust inter-agency cooperation, and community engagement, ACC Onoja Attah has tightened the net around illicit mining operations that siphon billions of naira away from government coffers annually. His leadership has brought a new level of vigilance, reducing illegal exports and channeling minerals back into formal structures where they can be taxed, regulated, and monetized for national benefit.

Onoja’s approach is not merely reactive policing; it is rooted in preventive intelligence. Under his command, the Special Mining Marshals emphasize intelligence-led operations, ensuring that mining sites are secured before criminal cartels can infiltrate them. This shift from reaction to prevention has already begun yielding measurable results in terms of higher mineral recovery rates and increased royalty payments to government agencies.

What makes Onoja particularly remarkable is his ability to blend professional security expertise with deep community sensibilities. Recognizing that host communities often feel alienated from mining activities, he has championed outreach campaigns that encourage cooperation rather than resistance. This inclusive model not only diffuses potential conflicts but also empowers locals to become stakeholders in safeguarding their own natural resources.

It is no exaggeration to say that every mineral saved from illegal hands under Onoja’s watch translates directly into revenue for the Nigerian state. In this light, his work represents a direct contribution to the government’s broader agenda of diversifying revenue streams and reducing dependence on oil. From gold to tantalite, from limestone to lithium, the minerals under his protection represent building blocks of Nigeria’s economic future.

In the hierarchy of national security and economic governance, officers like Onoja are rare. His blend of discipline, foresight, and patriotism makes him an exceptional asset not only to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) but to the nation at large. It is for this reason that Onoja deserves commendation and every form of encouragement. He is, without doubt, a rare breed in the Nigerian public service space.

Equally deserving of recognition is the leadership that identified and positioned him for this national duty. NSCDC Commandant General, Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, must be commended for his courage and foresight in recognizing the potential of such a special character. In an institution where merit and vision are needed to address modern threats, the CG’s decision to entrust Onoja with mining security reflects strategic wisdom of the highest order.

The presence of Onoja within the NSCDC is, in itself, a high-value addition to the Corps’ image. His accomplishments radiate positively on the organization, demonstrating that the NSCDC is not merely about guarding pipelines or managing public safety but also about protecting strategic economic assets in ways that strengthen the national treasury. For the Corps, Onoja symbolizes the new frontier of relevance in Nigeria’s security architecture.

Looking at his trajectory, one is left with little doubt that with Onoja, Nigeria is destined for a greater future. His work affirms that the solid minerals sector, if properly protected and harnessed, can become a pillar of national prosperity. Indeed, his leadership in this space is helping Nigeria move closer to realizing the dream of economic independence beyond oil.

For a country seeking to reposition itself in the global economy, the value of such officers cannot be overstated. ACC John Onoja Attah embodies a new generation of Nigerian leaders who are solution-driven, nationally minded, and globally attuned. His rare qualities inspire confidence not only in the Corps but in the broader project of Nigerian nation-building.

At this moment in history, the name Onoja resonates as a beacon of hope, professionalism, and national progress. His legacy, though still in the making, is already reshaping Nigeria’s solid minerals narrative. It is only fitting to say that the NSCDC should be proud to have him as one of its own, and Nigerians should be assured that with such rare characters in charge, the country’s economic future is in safe hands.