Pix: Dr. Dele Alake, Solid Minerals Minister

Dr. Kenneth Obiagwu, a Geologist, writes in from Edo State

Nigeria’s solid minerals sector has emerged as one of the most critical frontiers in the nation’s search for economic diversification. Yet, it is also one of the most vulnerable to criminal exploitation, environmental abuse, and regulatory neglect. As illegal mining deepens across the country, there is an urgent need for special attention to mining security within the operational framework of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The NSCDC was established by law to protect critical national assets and infrastructure. Over the years, this mandate has expanded beyond oil and gas facilities to include other strategic resources vital to national development. With solid minerals now central to Nigeria’s diversification drive, it is logical and imperative that mining sites, mineral routes, and processing facilities receive equal protection and policy priority.

Illegal mining has become a major national concern. Across states such as Zamfara, Niger, Kogi, Nasarawa, Plateau, and Osun, unlicensed operators continue to strip the land of gold, lithium, tin, lead, and other valuable minerals. Recent government estimates put annual losses from illegal mining and mineral smuggling at over nine billion dollars. This haemorrhage of wealth robs the economy of much-needed revenue and fuels insecurity in mining communities.

The menace is not limited to economic sabotage; it has become a serious security challenge. Illegal mining camps often double as operational bases for criminal syndicates, bandits, and smugglers. The proceeds of illegal mining have been linked to the financing of arms and the escalation of rural conflicts. Securing mining zones is, therefore, not just an economic necessity but a matter of national security.

Recognising this threat, the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, introduced the Special Mining Marshals, a tactical unit dedicated to combating illegal mining and safeguarding mineral assets across the federation. The marshals, under the command of Assistant Commandant of Corps (ACC) Onoja John Attah, have already recorded notable successes in intercepting stolen minerals and dismantling illegal operations.

However, as commendable as these efforts are, the challenges remain enormous. Mining areas often cover vast, remote terrains, making surveillance difficult and response times slow. In some regions, miners operate under the protection of powerful syndicates, while others exploit legal loopholes and weak coordination between federal and state authorities.

This is where special attention and strategic investment become critical. Mining security cannot be treated as a peripheral duty within the NSCDC. It deserves dedicated policy, funding, and inter-agency support equivalent to that given to oil pipeline protection. The country’s mineral wealth is just as valuable, and increasingly more strategic, as petroleum.

There is also a growing need for intelligence-led operations in mining security. The NSCDC, working with the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and other agencies, must integrate geospatial mapping, drone surveillance, and digital tracking of mineral movement. Such technological tools would help identify illegal pits, monitor smuggling routes, and collect evidence for prosecution.

Legal support is equally vital. Without robust legal backing, arrests often fail to translate into convictions. A reviewed Minerals and Mining Act should clearly define the NSCDC’s role in mining security and grant its officers prosecutorial powers in cases of illegal mining, vandalism, and mineral theft. This would make enforcement efforts more efficient and credible.

Equally important is community engagement. Many mining communities harbour illegal miners because of poverty, neglect, or ignorance of environmental risks. The NSCDC’s extensive community presence gives it a comparative advantage in public sensitisation and stakeholder dialogue. Turning communities from passive observers into active partners in mining security could be a game changer.

Furthermore, special attention to mining security would strengthen inter-agency synergy. The NSCDC, police, customs, and environmental agencies must work under a unified operational framework, sharing intelligence and coordinating actions. Overlapping functions and turf battles only embolden offenders and weaken state authority.

From an economic standpoint, protecting mining assets aligns directly with Nigeria’s growth aspirations. If illegal extraction and smuggling can be curtailed, the formal mining sector could generate hundreds of thousands of jobs, boost exports, and contribute more meaningfully to GDP. Mining security, therefore, is not merely a policing exercise; it is an economic stabilisation strategy.

The NSCDC has shown strong commitment under Prof. Audi’s leadership to modernise its operations and strengthen discipline within its ranks. Extending this professionalism to mining security through specialised training, improved logistics, and advanced intelligence gathering would consolidate the Corps’ reputation as Nigeria’s foremost internal security agency for critical infrastructure protection.

Mining security also touches on environmental sustainability. Unregulated digging and crude processing have caused extensive degradation, from deforestation and water pollution to land collapse. By enforcing lawful operations and shutting down illegal sites, the NSCDC contributes to environmental protection and long-term food security.

The appointment of experienced field officers like Commander Onoja John Attah to lead the Special Mining Marshals demonstrates the Corps’ readiness to confront the challenge. What remains is to scale up the initiative, institutionalise it nationwide, and integrate it into Nigeria’s broader mineral development strategy.

With global demand rising for critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and tin, all of which Nigeria possesses in abundance, the country cannot afford to watch its resources drained through theft and sabotage. Mining security is therefore a national priority that deserves dedicated structures, trained personnel, and sustained political backing.

In the final analysis, giving special attention to mining security within the NSCDC’s mandate would deliver multiple dividends: economic protection, environmental restoration, national stability, and community empowerment. It is an investment in security that pays back in development.