The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has intensified its nationwide enforcement operations through its Special Mining Marshals, with a firm commitment to ensuring full compliance with extant mining laws and environmental standards guiding the nation’s solid minerals sector. The exercise, according to the Corps, is aimed at sanitizing the industry and curbing the growing cases of illegal mining and environmental degradation across the country.

Assistant Commandant of Corps (ACC) Onoja John Attah, who serves as the Commandant of the NSCDC Elitist Special Mining Marshals, disclosed this while leading a team of operatives on inspection of mining sites. He stated that the ongoing exercise is a proactive measure to safeguard national assets, protect legitimate investors, and promote responsible mining practices in line with the Federal Government’s economic diversification agenda.

According to ACC Attah, the NSCDC Mining Marshals have received clear directives from the Commandant General to enforce existing mining regulations without compromise. He emphasized that the law mandates all mining operators to obtain valid licenses, adhere to approved environmental standards, and pay statutory dues to the appropriate government agencies. “We are not out to witch hunt anyone,” he said, “but to ensure that every player in the mining sector aligns strictly with extant laws and operational guidelines.”

He warned that operators who fail to comply with these laws would face severe sanctions, including arrest, prosecution, and revocation of mining licenses. “Illegal mining is an act of economic sabotage,” ACC Attah stated firmly. “Those engaging in such unpatriotic activities are short changing the nation and destroying our environment. The NSCDC, through its Mining Marshals, will not fold its arms while such infractions persist.”

The Commandant further explained that the inspection of mining fields was part of a strategic effort to identify defaulters and strengthen collaboration with relevant stakeholders such as the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, the Nigeria Police, and host communities. He noted that a well coordinated enforcement approach would help eliminate illegal operators and create a fair, transparent, and sustainable mining environment.

ACC Attah stressed that compliance with extant laws is not optional but a civic and legal obligation. He cautioned that failure to comply could result in dire implications, including environmental pollution, loss of revenue, community unrest, and even fatal mining accidents. “Noncompliance doesn’t just harm the government; it endangers lives, destroys the ecosystem, and weakens investor confidence in the sector,” he added.

He urged all stakeholders in the solid minerals industry, both local and foreign investors, to view compliance as a corporate responsibility and a prerequisite for sustainable business. “Those who abide by the rules have nothing to fear,” he assured. “The Corps recognizes and respects legitimate operators, but we will continue to go after those who refuse to regularize their operations.”

Speaking on the broader implications of illegal mining, ACC Attah lamented that Nigeria loses billions of naira annually to unauthorized extraction and smuggling of mineral resources. He noted that apart from the economic losses, such acts also fuel insecurity and violence in mining communities. “By enforcing compliance, we are indirectly contributing to national security and economic stability,” he said.

The NSCDC Mining Marshals Commandant reaffirmed that the enforcement campaign would be continuous and nationwide. He revealed that special task forces have been deployed across all geopolitical zones to monitor, inspect, and ensure adherence to mining standards. “Every region will feel our presence,” he declared. “We are determined to make the mining sector a model of accountability and legality.”

In conclusion, ACC Onoja John Attah appealed to miners and stakeholders to support the NSCDC’s efforts, emphasizing that the operation is in the collective interest of the nation. “Compliance is the bedrock of progress,” he said. “We urge all industry practitioners to align with the extant laws guiding the sector. Together, we can build a safe, transparent, and prosperous mining industry for Nigeria.”