The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has reported that the Nigerian government has apprehende almost 300 illegal miners within the past eight months following the establishment of the Mining Marshals.
The mining marshals were launched in March 2024 as a specialized security unit to safeguard Nigeria’s mining sites and combat the prevalent issue of unauthorized mining activities in the country.
The marshals, headed by Abubakar Audi, who serves as the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), have been actively working to address theft and other unlawful actions related to Nigeria’s solid mineral resources.
With over 2,000 trained marshals deployed to different mining sites, the security force has been successful in apprehending numerous illegal miners, including foreign individuals.
The increased security presence has resulted in a marked decrease in unauthorized mining activities nationwide, bringing a semblance of order to an industry previously characterized by disorder.
The strengthened security framework put in place to combat illegal mining has proven to be effective in upholding law and order in the sector.
Alake emphasized the importance of focusing on in-country mineral processing and value addition to help Nigeria derive maximum economic benefits from its mineral resources instead of solely relying on raw exports.
This shift in policy is not only beneficial for Nigeria but also sets an example for other African countries. As part of this initiative, the African Mineral Strategy Group has been established to foster collaboration and enhance the mining sector across the continent.