NSCDC Warns Miners Against Illegal Operations, Vows Prosecution
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has warned mining operators across the country against violating mining laws and regulations, stressing that offenders will face prosecution.
The warning was contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by the Commander of the NSCDC Mining Marshals, Assistant Commandant of Corps John Attah.
The warning followed intensified nationwide enforcement operations by the Mining Marshals aimed at sanitising Nigeria’s solid minerals sector and curbing illegal mining.
According to the NSCDC, its specialised enforcement teams, particularly in the South-West, have intensified efforts to ensure that mining activities comply with existing laws and regulatory requirements.
Attah cautioned mining operators against operating outside the approved regulatory framework, emphasising that ignorance of the law would not constitute a defence.
“Ignorance of the law will never be an excuse. Every operator must ensure that mining activities are conducted within the ambit of the law.
“Those who choose to operate outside the regulatory framework will face the full weight of legal consequences,” he said.
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The commander said the renewed enforcement campaign was designed not only to curb illegal mining but also to protect legitimate investors, boost government revenue and restore confidence in the solid minerals sector.
He stressed that strict compliance with mining regulations was essential to ensuring the safe and sustainable exploitation of Nigeria’s mineral resources for national development.
Illegal mining remains a major challenge to Nigeria’s solid minerals industry, contributing to revenue losses, environmental degradation and the unregulated exploitation of the country’s mineral resources.
The intensified enforcement is part of broader Federal Government efforts to reform the sector and position it as a major contributor to economic diversification, revenue generation and foreign exchange earnings.
Nigeria has significant deposits of commercially viable minerals, including gold, lithium, limestone, coal, bitumen and tin. However, the sector has continued to underperform its potential amid illegal mining, insecurity, regulatory weaknesses and the activities of unlicensed operators.
The Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has also intensified efforts to strengthen regulation, attract investment and tackle illegal exploitation, while urging operators to obtain the necessary licences and comply with statutory requirements.
