FG Expands Mining Marshal Operations to Tackle Illegal Activities
The Federal Government has intensified efforts to curb illegal mining by expanding the responsibilities of Mining Marshals to include surveillance, intelligence operations and compliance enforcement across mining sites nationwide.
According to officials from the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, the special enforcement team will now work closely with regulators to monitor mining activities, investigate violations and improve oversight within the sector.
The development was disclosed by the Commander of Mining Marshals Operations, Assistant Commandant Attah Onoja, who explained that the initiative forms part of broader reforms aimed at sanitising Nigeria’s solid minerals industry.
As part of the renewed operations, teams of Mining Marshals recently participated in inspection and fact-finding visits to mining locations in Nasarawa and Plateau states alongside ministry officials.
The exercise, supervised by senior officials representing the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, focused on assessing operational standards, environmental practices and compliance with existing mining regulations.
During one of the field operations, authorities visited a site suspected to be involved in unlawful mining activities as part of ongoing investigations into illegal exploitation of mineral resources.
The inspection team included directors from the Mines Inspectorate Department, Legal Services Department, Special Duties Unit and representatives of the Mining Cadastre Office.
Officials said the operations are also intended to strengthen communication between mining communities and government agencies by providing channels for residents to report illegal activities, insecurity and environmental concerns directly to regulators.
The Mining Marshals are expected to continue supporting enforcement efforts through intelligence sharing, inter-agency collaboration and operational monitoring in mining communities across the country.
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