By Dr Shamusidden Junaid, Solid Mineral Management Expert, writes from Bauchi State<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nigeria\u2019s renewed determination to harness its vast solid mineral endowment for national development demands a corresponding transformation of the security architecture protecting the sector. At the centre of this imperative is the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Mining Marshals, whose expanding operational responsibilities have demonstrated that the protection of the nation\u2019s mineral resources can no longer be treated as a peripheral security assignment. The Mining Marshals have evolved into an increasingly consequential component of Nigeria\u2019s response to illegal mining, mineral theft and associated criminality. It is therefore time to progressively elevate the formation from what is often perceived as a specialised unit into a properly institutionalised core mandate of the NSCDC, backed by appropriate legislation, sustainable funding, specialised manpower, modern technology and a nationwide operational framework.The rationale for such institutional elevation is embedded in the statutory responsibilities of the NSCDC. The Corps is charged with the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure, crime prevention and support for civil authorities. Nigeria\u2019s mineral deposits, particularly gold, lithium, tin, tantalite, iron ore, barite and other commercially significant resources, are national economic assets whose protection should be regarded as an integral component of national and economic security. Where criminal networks illegally exploit, transport or smuggle these resources, the consequences extend beyond ordinary criminality, undermining government revenue, legitimate investment, host communities and environmental sustainability.The scale and sophistication of illegal mining further strengthen the case for a more formidable Mining Marshals structure. Nigeria\u2019s mining sector contains a substantial artisanal and small scale component, much of which operates outside the formal regulatory framework. This creates opportunities for illegal extraction, mineral smuggling, revenue leakages, environmental offences and the emergence of criminal networks around mining communities. The challenge therefore requires more than conventional policing. It demands specialised personnel capable of understanding mining legislation, licensing regimes, mineral supply chains, environmental concerns, financial transactions and the complex socio economic realities surrounding artisanal mining.The operational record of the Mining Marshals provides a strong basis for their institutional strengthening. By July 2026, the NSCDC reported that the formation had arrested 671 suspected illegal miners, with 397 cases taken before the Federal High Court. The Corps also reported the closure of illegal mining sites, seizure of equipment and interventions to restore mining locations to legitimate operators. These figures demonstrate that the Mining Marshals have moved beyond the realm of an experimental initiative and are becoming a substantive component of Nigeria\u2019s enforcement response to illegal mining.The Federal Government has also recognised the need to enhance the formation\u2019s capacity. The Ministry of Information and National Orientation reported that the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, called for additional logistics, vehicles, equipment and other resources to enable the Mining Marshals to expand their operations towards all 774 local government areas. Earlier reports also indicated the recovery of mining sites from illegal operators, arrests and prosecutions, as well as surveillance of numerous locations vulnerable to illegal mining. The scale of these responsibilities makes it increasingly difficult to justify treating the Mining Marshals as a lightly resourced specialised formation.The next logical step should therefore be the transition from a largely reactive enforcement mechanism to a permanent mineral security architecture within the NSCDC. The Mining Marshals require clearly defined command structures, specialised investigators, intelligence personnel, forensic officers, environmental security specialists, financial intelligence capabilities and officers trained in evidence preservation and prosecution. Such institutionalisation would ensure that the fight against illegal mining is approached not merely as a succession of field operations, but as a comprehensive national economic security undertaking.Against this background, the leadership provided by ACC John Attah Onoja deserves institutional encouragement and constructive support. The operational activities of the Mining Marshals under his leadership demonstrate the importance of specialised command, focused intelligence and sustained field engagement. Rather than allowing the formation to remain constrained by inadequate resources or treating it merely as an auxiliary component of the security architecture, the Federal Government should consolidate and expand its existing capabilities. Supporting the ACC John Attah Onoja led Mining Marshals does not mean diminishing accountability; it means providing the institutional resources required to achieve greater and measurable results.However, empowerment must go hand in hand with accountability and professionalism. A stronger Mining Marshals formation must operate within the law, uphold due process and respect fundamental rights during enforcement operations. The recent deaths of detainees following anti illegal mining operations in Niger State have generated serious public concern and resulted in government investigations. Such developments reinforce the need for stringent safeguards covering arrest, detention, medical assessment, custody management, documentation and supervisory oversight. Strengthening the Mining Marshals must therefore involve not only vehicles, equipment and technology, but also ethics, human rights compliance and institutional accountability.Technology should constitute another pillar of the expansion. It is unrealistic to monitor Nigeria\u2019s extensive mining landscape through conventional patrols alone. The NSCDC should therefore be supported to deploy drones, satellite imagery, geospatial intelligence, digital communications, electronic databases and a dedicated national mining security situation room. Such infrastructure would facilitate real time intelligence gathering, identification of illegal mining locations, monitoring of mineral transportation corridors and rapid deployment of personnel to emerging hotspots. It would also provide reliable operational data for policy formulation and strategic planning.The economic justification is equally compelling. Government data have indicated substantial growth in revenue from the solid minerals sector, with reported revenue increasing from about N6 billion in 2023 to N38 billion in 2024, with subsequent improvements reported. Although revenue growth is influenced by several factors, effective protection of legitimate mining operations remains essential to sustaining the gains. Every mineral illegally extracted and diverted from the formal economy represents a potential loss of government revenue, employment, investment and wider economic value. Mineral security must therefore be regarded as an investment in national prosperity rather than merely an expenditure on law enforcement.The Mining Marshals should also deepen collaboration with the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Mining Cadastre Office, Mines Inspectorate, Nigeria Customs Service, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, Nigeria Police Force, Armed Forces, state governments and traditional institutions. Illegal mining may involve financing, transportation, concealment, documentation fraud, cross border movement, mineral laundering and the conversion of illicit proceeds. A comprehensive response therefore requires coordinated intelligence and enforcement across the entire mineral value chain. Personnel should equally receive continuous training in mineral identification, mining law, intelligence analysis, environmental protection, financial investigation, evidence management, human rights and community engagement.Ultimately, the Mining Marshals should be regarded as an emerging instrument of Nigeria\u2019s economic security architecture rather than merely another enforcement squad. The country\u2019s mineral wealth cannot generate sustainable prosperity unless it is effectively governed, protected and legally exploited. The NSCDC already possesses the institutional foundation for a larger role through its responsibility for protecting critical national assets and infrastructure. The strategic imperative is therefore to strengthen and institutionalise what has already begun. The ACC John Attah Onoja led Mining Marshals require sustained encouragement, adequate funding, modern equipment, specialist training, technological support, inter agency cooperation and clearly defined operational authority. With these measures, the Mining Marshals can develop into a formidable national institution for protecting Nigeria\u2019s mineral resources, safeguarding legitimate investment, curbing illegal exploitation and supporting the transformation of the solid minerals sector into a dependable pillar of national economic development.This version keeps the 12 paragraphs, preserves the major figures and maintains the central argument that mineral security should become a core NSCDC mandate rather than remain merely a specialised unit.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Dr Shamusidden Junaid, Solid Mineral Management Expert, writes from Bauchi State Nigeria\u2019s renewed determination to harness its vast solid mineral endowment for national development demands a corresponding transformation of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":28898,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29899","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pages"],"yoast_head":"\n