FG Deploys Mining Marshals to Deepen Oversight, Tackle Illegal Mining
The Federal Government has deployed Mining Marshals to support intelligence gathering, compliance monitoring and operational oversight across Nigeria’s solid minerals sector as part of renewed efforts to curb illegal mining activities.
The deployment was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Commander of Mining Marshals Operations and Assistant Commandant of Corps, Attah Onoja.
According to Onoja, the Mining Marshals have now been integrated into investigations, intelligence operations, compliance inspections and fact-finding missions coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development.
He explained that the operatives recently accompanied ministry officials on operational visits to mining sites in Nasarawa and Plateau states under the supervision of the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake.
“The Mining Marshals are now participating in investigations, intelligence gathering, compliance monitoring and fact-finding missions conducted by the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development,” the statement said.
It added that the operations were designed to enhance regulatory compliance, strengthen monitoring mechanisms and improve operational oversight within the mining sector.
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The statement further revealed that the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Engr. Faruk Yusuf Yabo, represented the minister during several of the field engagements.
During one of the operations, the Commander of the Mining Marshals, ACC Attah John Onoja, joined ministry officials on an inspection of a mining site allegedly involved in illegal mining activities.
The visit, according to the statement, was aimed at verifying allegations of unlawful mining operations, assessing compliance with existing mining regulations and gathering field-based evidence for possible administrative and enforcement actions.
Other officials who participated in the operations included the Director of Special Duties, Engr. Frank Odoom; the Director of Mines Inspectorate, Engr. Imam A. Ganiyu; the Director of Legal Services, Andrew Zubiri; and Ibrahim Abdulmajeed J., who represented the Director-General of the Mining Cadastre Office.
The government said the engagements also provided an avenue for direct interaction between authorities and mining communities, allowing stakeholders to raise concerns relating to illegal mining, environmental practices, security issues and regulatory compliance.
According to the statement, the Mining Marshals have continued to support the ministry through intelligence sharing, operational collaboration and inter-agency coordination in mining communities nationwide.
By PRNigeria
