The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has warned mining operators across Nigeria against engaging in illegal activities, stressing that anyone who violates the country’s mining laws and regulations will face prosecution.
The warning was contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by the Commander of the Mining Marshals, Assistant Commandant of Corps John Attah.
The development follows renewed enforcement operations by the NSCDC Mining Marshals across the country as part of efforts to sanitise Nigeria’s solid minerals sector and tackle illegal mining.
The specialised enforcement unit said its teams, particularly those operating in the South-West, had recorded progress in ensuring that mining activities comply with existing laws and regulatory requirements.
However, Attah cautioned mining operators against disregarding the regulations, emphasising that a lack of knowledge of the law would not protect offenders from prosecution.
He said, “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.”
NSCDC Moves to Protect Legitimate Mining Operators
Attah explained that the intensified enforcement campaign was not solely focused on stopping illegal mining.
According to him, the operation is also designed to protect legitimate investors, boost government revenue and rebuild confidence in a sector that has suffered years of regulatory breaches and economic sabotage.
He stressed that compliance with mining regulations was essential to ensuring Nigeria’s mineral resources are extracted safely, sustainably and in ways that contribute meaningfully to the national economy.
Illegal mining remains a major challenge for Nigeria’s solid minerals industry, contributing to revenue losses, environmental damage and the uncontrolled exploitation of the country’s mineral resources.
Government Steps Up Solid Minerals Sector Reforms
The latest enforcement campaign forms part of the Federal Government’s wider efforts to reform the solid minerals industry and position it as an important pillar of Nigeria’s economic diversification strategy.
Nigeria has substantial deposits of commercially valuable minerals, including gold, lithium, limestone, coal, bitumen and tin. However, the sector has continued to fall short of its potential due to illegal mining, insecurity, regulatory weaknesses and the activities of unlicensed operators.
Successive administrations have attempted to reposition the sector as a major source of government revenue and foreign exchange as Nigeria works to reduce its dependence on crude oil.
The renewed operations by the Mining Marshals also support the reform agenda of the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, which has intensified efforts to attract investment, strengthen regulatory oversight and combat illegal exploitation of mineral resources.
The ministry has consistently urged mining operators to comply with licensing and other regulatory requirements, maintaining that stronger enforcement and better protection for legitimate investors are critical to unlocking the full economic potential of Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.
