*Dr. Oladele Alake, Minister for Solid Minerals Development, highlights the success stories of the Ministry on the occasion of the 1st Anniversary of the inauguration of Mining Marshals, a force specially created to secure mining sites across Nigeria

Gbenga Kayode | 绿帽献妻

The Federal Government has disclosed how Mining Marshals arrested a total of 327 suspects for illegal mining operations and recovered 98 sites across Nigeria in the last one year.

绿帽献妻 reports Dr. Oladele Alake, Honourable Minister for Solid Minerals Development, stated this at a media briefing Friday, March 21, 2025, in Abuja, FCT, on the occasion of the commemoration of 1st Anniversary of the inauguration of Mining Marshals in the country.

Why inauguration of Mining Marshals?

The 2,670 strong Mining Marshals are dedicated members of a force, specially created to secure mining sites in Nigeria.

Dr. Alake said the Ministry deployed the Mining Marshals in the last one year to address the menace of illegal mining with a view to boosting Federal Government revenue from the sector.

Some solid minerals deposits in Nigeria

The Minister also revealed the Mining Marshals identified 457 suspected illegal mining sites due to improved intelligence gathering in the past year.

Commending the successes recorded by the Mining Marshals within a year, Alake assured Nigerians, that the government would expand the scope of the special force from covering only 10 states to the entire 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

He said: 鈥淚 want to congratulate you on the very good work that you have done in this last one year.

“We are very impressed with your performance this year.

“And this gives us the confidence to believe that you are going to do more.”

The Minister further said: 鈥淲hen you are successful in what you do, then higher authority will be more confident to give you more responsibility.

鈥淭he purpose of creating and establishing you last year has been displayed. “You have succeeded in addressing several illegal offenders, growing into hundreds.”

Alake averred: 鈥淵ou have succeeded in bringing some into the courts for persecution, and in fact, ensuring conviction.

鈥淏ecause you are one year today, starting another new year tomorrow.

“And I want to assure you that those things that you need, for efficiency of your operations, like logistical support, arms, money, everything, and all other things that you must need, we will provide for you. And that is to ensure that your job will be made easier.鈥�

On arrest, prosecution of high-profile illegal mining suspects

Dr. Alake stressed the Mining Marshals equally nabbed some high-profile suspects, including military officials, politicians, traditional rulers, and other wealthy Nigerians during the period.

He asserted that he is optimistic the monster of mineral resource theft is surmountable, in regard to the successes the Nigerian Government achieved with the Mining Marshals within a year.

鈥淭oday鈥檚 event is a continuation of what we do, and that is reporting. We are reporting on the activities of the Mining Marshalls in the last one year.

Mining Marshals in action at a resource site in Nigeria

“Exactly one year ago today, in this premises, we activated the Mining Marshals and unleashed them onto the fields and the forests, with the sole objective of flushing out illegal operators in this sector,” stated Alake.

Minister explained: 鈥淎 core of 2,220 officers have formed the Mining Marshals and increased over time by 450.

“There are now 2,670 as of today. And this is due to the injection of new recruits of 350 officers and 100 higher level officers during the course of the year.”

Impact of Mining Marshal initiative on minerals sector

Relating how the far-reaching operations of the Mining Marshals are chasing illegal operators out of the industry in droves, Dr. Alake said: 鈥淭here is no doubt that the activation of a new Corps to enforce the provisions of the Nigerian Mining and Minerals Law 2007 and the regulations sent shivers down the spines of illegal miners.

鈥淯pon activation of this Corps, a clear message was sent to the sector of solid minerals in Nigeria.

“The activation of this new core as I said, sent a shockwave in the entire mining sector of Nigeria. Illegal operators in the mining sector of Nigeria were forced to leave the sector.鈥�

The Minister equally cited the case of over 3,000 illegal miners, whom the Mining Marshals chased out of the North South Extractive Industries Limited, in Kogi State.

He listed other sites recovered to include Ganan Mining Limited (Kuje, FCT); Jinloys Nigeria Limited in Abia State; Orbit Exploration and Natural Products Limited in Kogi State.

According to him, the operations of the Mining Marshals as well led to conviction of foreign illegal miners, Yang Chao and Wu Shan Chuan, in Kwara State.

Besides expanding their coverage nationwide, the Minister said the Mining Marshals would be integrating satellite technology, drones, and miniature robots into their operations across the West African country.

He stated: 鈥淔or the first time, we are providing both air and ground coverage for the security of the solid minerals sector.

“The activation of the Mining Marshals sent shivers down the spine of illegal miners. It is no longer business as usual.”

The Minister, therefore, expressed appreciation to security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force, for their training for the Mining Marshals, and their role in the fight against illegal miners in the sector.

Alake commended the Nigerian Judiciary for swift action in prosecuting mining offenders.

Institution of annual prize for Best Report on Solid Minerals

Alake, at the briefing, announced the institution of an annual prize for the Best Report on Solid Minerals Development in Nigeria, to be administered by the Diamonds Awards for Media Excellence (DAME).

He noted that the initiative is aimed at encouraging responsible and impactful journalism in the sector.

The Minister averred: 鈥淭he Nigerian press has been serious, comprehensive, and patriotic in its coverage of the solid minerals sector.

鈥淭his award will further enhance public awareness.”

Alake reaffirmed the Federal Government鈥檚 commitment to consolidating gains, flushing out more illegal miners, and boosting Nigeria鈥檚 Solid Minerals contribution to national revenue.

Commandant relates Mining Marshals’ experiences in sanitising solid minerals sector

Earlier in his address on the occasion, Attah John Onoja, National Commandant of the Mining Marshals, had highlighted the impressive role of the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development in establishing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the Mining Marshals.

Onoja said the Minister’s initiative had ensured professionalism in their enforcement efforts in the industry.

The Commandant disclosed some of the challenges faced by the operatives included dangerous terrains and security risks.

He, however, the stakeholders, that the Mining Marshals are 100 percent committed to sanitising the sector.

He stated: 鈥淪ince our launch, we have responded to numerous petitions from legitimate mineral title holders, who have been unable to access their sites due to the activities of illegal miners and, in some cases, bandits.

鈥淪ir, you are a father. We are leaving here more motivated, and I can assure you that even if I don鈥檛 eat for the next two days, I will be the happiest person in the world.”

He also affirmed about 337 suspects of illegal miners have been arrested across the nation.

“Over 143 are currently undergoing prosecution. We observe strictly the provisions of the law.

鈥淥ur driving force is the commitment to safeguarding the sector. “The words of encouragement from the Honourable Minister mean more to us than money. They have kept our morale high despite limited logistics,鈥� he said

On the collaboration between the NSCDC and the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Onoja stressed the initiative aligns with the Federal Government鈥檚 economic agenda to reposition the mining sector as a viable alternative to oil revenue.

The National Commandant of Mining Marshals appreciated the media for their coverage of their activities.

He averred the press coverage of their activities聽 has helped to increase public awareness of the fight against illegal mining in Nigeria.

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