Expanded Partnership Targets Illegal Mining, Regulatory Compliance and Investor Confidence
The Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has intensified its efforts to sanitise Nigeria’s mining sector through an expanded institutional collaboration with the Mining Marshals, broadening the security outfit’s operational responsibilities beyond the traditional enforcement of illegal mining activities.
The renewed partnership is part of the Federal Government’s wider strategy to reposition the solid minerals sector as a transparent, secure and investment-friendly industry capable of contributing significantly to economic diversification and national development.
Investigations revealed that the ministry is increasingly deploying the Mining Marshals in strategic operations involving intelligence gathering, compliance monitoring, investigative assignments and fact-finding missions aimed at strengthening regulatory oversight across mining communities nationwide.
As part of the expanded operational framework, the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development recently carried out a series of operational tours across mining sites in Northern Nigeria in collaboration with the Mining Marshals.
The engagements, initiated under the leadership of the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, were designed to reinforce monitoring mechanisms, ensure compliance with mining regulations and improve operational accountability within the sector.
On different occasions, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Faruk Yusuf Yabo, represented the minister during visits to several mining locations across Nasarawa State and Plateau State.
During one of the operational and fact-finding missions, ministry officials alongside the Commander of the Mining Marshals, Attah John Onoja, visited a mining site allegedly linked to illegal mining activities.
Officials disclosed that the visit formed part of ongoing efforts by the ministry to verify allegations of unlawful mining operations, assess compliance with existing mining laws and obtain field-based intelligence necessary for administrative, regulatory and possible enforcement actions.
The delegation also comprised key directors and senior officials of the ministry, including Engr. Frank Odoom, Director of Special Duties; Engr. Imam A. Ganiyu, Director of Mines Inspectorate; Andrew Zubiri, Director of Legal Services; and Ibrahim Abdulmajeed J., representing the Director-General of the Mining Cadastre Office.
Findings from the engagements underscored the Federal Government’s commitment to building a more sanitised and regulated mining environment where host communities, investors, licensed operators and other stakeholders can operate under improved security and regulatory supervision.
Officials further noted that the operational tours provided an important platform for direct engagement between government authorities and mining communities, allowing concerns surrounding illegal mining, environmental practices, insecurity and regulatory infractions to be properly communicated and addressed.
Industry observers believe the ministry’s decision to integrate the Mining Marshals into broader institutional and investigative operations reflects a more coordinated national approach towards combating illegal mining, strengthening governance structures and restoring confidence within Nigeria’s solid minerals value chain.
Under the leadership of Dele Alake, the ministry has continued to implement reforms aimed at curbing illegal mining activities, improving sectoral monitoring and attracting credible investments into the nation’s mining industry.
The Mining Marshals, a specialised security architecture established to combat illegal mining and safeguard licensed operators, have continued to play a critical role in supporting the ministry’s reform agenda through intelligence-driven operations, enforcement activities and inter-agency collaboration across mining communities nationwide.
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