By Kazeem Ugbodaga
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has vowed to intensify the crackdown on illegal miners, declaring that there will be no hiding place for violators as the federal government moves to strengthen the Mining Marshals and extend their operations nationwide.
Speaking at a press conference to mark the one-year anniversary of the Mining Marshals Corps, Alake stated that the unit has significantly disrupted illegal mining activities, restoring investor confidence in the sector. He warned that the government would stop at nothing to rid the industry of unscrupulous operators.
“The activation of the corps to enforce provisions of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act (NMMA) has struck fear into illegal operators, largely curbing their operations and serving as a deterrent,” Alake said.
He disclosed that the mining marshals had conducted operations across 10 states, including Niger, Kogi, Nasarawa, Akwa Ibom, Ondo, Kaduna, Enugu, Abia, Kwara, and the Federal Capital Territory, leading to the arrest of 327 suspected illegal miners, the arraignment of 143 suspects, the recovery of 98 mining sites, and the identification of 457 illegal mining sites.
While acknowledging that the marshals’ effectiveness has been hindered by logistical constraints, Alake assured that with increased budgetary allocation in the 2025 fiscal year, these challenges would be addressed.
He expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly for approving a substantial budget for the Ministry, which will enable the Mining Marshals to be fully equipped with enhanced operational capacity, better logistics, and improved ammunition.
In a bid to reinforce security in the sector, Alake revealed that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) recently approved N2.5 billion for the deployment of satellite technology to monitor mining activities.
With this advancement, he said the government would implement real-time surveillance, ensuring airtight security and effectively tracking illegal operations.
He described the initiative as a major milestone that would give Nigeria unprecedented air and ground security coverage for the solid minerals sector.
Assessing the progress of the Mining Marshals over the past year, the minister stated that the corps, which started with 2,220 personnel, has now grown to 2,670 operatives.
He emphasized that their presence has significantly raised awareness of the government’s enforcement capacity, deterring illegal mining activities and boosting revenue generation from the sector.
Alake commended the Commandant of the Mining Marshals, ACC John Attah Onoja, for his leadership and dedication, reaffirming the government’s commitment to further strengthen the corps with additional personnel, state-of-the-art equipment, and improved weaponry to ensure the total eradication of illegal mining.
Onoja, in his remarks, expressed appreciation for the minister’s guidance and the government’s unwavering support.
He stated that the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) approved by the minister had been instrumental in achieving the corps’ successes over the past year.
He further assured that with improved logistics and enhanced operational capacity, the Mining Marshals would intensify their battle against illegal mining and work tirelessly to sanitise the sector.
Alake reiterated that illegal mining operators should consider this their final warning, as the government remains resolute in its mission to cleanse the solid minerals sector and ensure strict enforcement of mining regulations.
