NSCDC at the Heart of Nigeria’s Mining Sector Revival By Zekeri Idakwo Laruba
As the saying goes, “nothing good comes easy.” That sentiment reflects the transformation underway in Nigeria’s mining sector, where years of insecurity, illegal operations, and regulatory gaps once stifled progress.
Today, reforms and strengthened security frameworks are gradually reshaping the industry into a more transparent and investor-friendly space.
A major turning point came with the deployment of the Mining Marshal, a specialized unit of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). Before its introduction, illegal syndicates and unregulated operators dominated mineral-rich states, depriving the nation of revenue and exposing host communities to violence and exploitation.
Now, through coordinated patrols, surveillance, and enforcement, the unit has significantly curtailed unlawful activities, restored order, and boosted investor confidence. With support from the Interior Ministry, inter-agency cooperation has also improved, giving enforcement efforts greater reach and authority.
Alongside these security gains, policy reforms have aimed to make the industry more transparent and accountable. Licensing has been simplified to cut through bureaucratic delays, while monitoring mechanisms have strengthened oversight.
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Importantly, new partnerships with local communities are helping to ensure that mining benefits are more widely shared, in the form of jobs, infrastructure, and social projects. At the same time, gradual moves toward local processing are pushing Nigeria closer to a system where minerals contribute directly to industrial growth rather than being exported in raw form.
Still, the momentum must be sustained. The Mining Marshal requires continuous funding, training, and technology to stay ahead of evolving criminal networks. Collaboration among agencies must be institutionalized to prevent duplication and rivalry.
Investment in beneficiation and processing should be prioritized to deepen value creation, while host communities must consistently see real, long-term dividends if peace and cooperation are to endure. Environmental safeguards and responsible mining standards are equally vital to prevent ecological damage that could reverse hard-won progress.
The experience so far shows what can be achieved when security and policy reforms move in tandem. The NSCDC, through its Mining Marshal unit, has provided a framework of stability that allows the mining industry to breathe again.
Nigeria can count these gains as important milestones, but the greater task lies ahead, ensuring that mineral wealth is managed responsibly and transformed into lasting prosperity for both communities and the wider economy
Zekeri Idakwo Laruba is the Assistant Editor Economic Confidential. [email protected]
