Pix: (ACC) John Attah Onoja, Commander, NSCDC Mining Marshals

By Isiaka Mustapha, Editor-in-Chief, People’s Security Monitor

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abia State Command, has intensified its campaign against illegal mining, dredging and quarrying, warning operators across the state to comply strictly with existing laws and regulations governing the sector.

The State Commandant, Chukwuemeka Odimba, gave the warning on Friday at a one day mining summit organised by the command in collaboration with the Abia State Government in Umuahia.

The summit, themed “Promoting Responsible Mining, Sustainable Mineral Resources Development and Compliance with Government Regulations,” brought together stakeholders in the mining industry to examine challenges confronting the sector and develop strategies for the responsible management of the state’s mineral resources.

Odimba described illegal and unregulated mining as a serious concern, warning that the activities had contributed to environmental degradation, erosion, insecurity, revenue losses and communal conflicts in parts of Abia State.

He observed that Abia was richly endowed with solid mineral resources, including limestone, granite, kaolin and sand, but expressed concern that irresponsible exploitation of these resources had exposed some mineral bearing communities to environmental hazards.

The commandant stressed that the NSCDC had a statutory responsibility to protect mines, quarry sites and mineral bearing lands as critical national assets and infrastructure under Section 3 of the NSCDC Act 2003, as amended in 2007.

He attributed the Corps’ growing capacity to tackle illegal mining partly to the establishment of the Mining Marshals by the Federal Government and the directives of the Commandant General, Prof Ahmed Abubakar Audi, aimed at strengthening enforcement and sanitising the mining sector.

According to Odimba, the summit was organised to educate mining operators on relevant laws, strengthen cooperation among government agencies and traditional institutions, encourage the formalisation of mining activities and reinforce enforcement against illegal operators.

He assured stakeholders that the command would adopt firm, professional and comprehensive enforcement measures against individuals and companies found violating mining regulations.

Odimba further emphasised the need for effective collaboration among the Federal Mining Office, Abia State Government, security agencies and traditional rulers to ensure that mining activities deliver economic benefits to operators, host communities and government without compromising environmental safety.

The summit featured technical presentations by the Abia State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, who represented Governor Alex Otti; the Federal Mining Officer; the Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources; the Commissioner for Works; and representatives of quarrying and dredging associations.

Security chiefs from sister agencies also delivered goodwill messages, while the interactive session was moderated by the Head of the Critical National Assets and Infrastructure Unit, Deputy Commandant of Corps E. A. Edike.

A communiqué containing the resolutions and recommendations reached at the summit is expected to be issued after stakeholders reconvene.

The NSCDC reaffirmed its commitment to protecting critical national assets and infrastructure, enforcing compliance with mining regulations and creating a safe environment for responsible and sustainable mineral resource development in Abia State.