The Federal Government and key stakeholders, including the Ministries of Solid Minerals, Justice, Interior, and various security agencies, have opposed a bill proposing the establishment of the Nigeria Mines Ranger Service (NMRS).
Intended to tackle illegal mining and other crimes in the mining sector, the NMRS bill, sponsored by Senator Ogoshi Mohammed Onawo, is seen by these stakeholders as duplicating the role of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Senator Onawo advocated for the NMRS to provide specialized security for mining operations, enforce environmental standards, and foster sustainable mining practices.
The proposed NMRS would also serve as an emergency response unit, addressing illegal mining, mining accidents, and other crises, with the aim of reducing the estimated $15.9 billion lost annually to illegal mining.
However, Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi, represented by Dr. Patrick Eka Eoyan, argued that the bill’s mandate overlaps with the NSCDC, which already has a broad scope under Section 3 of its establishment act that could cover mining-related crimes. “There is no need to create another body when existing agencies, if properly equipped and staffed, can address the issues,” he noted.
Minister of Solid Minerals Dr. Dele H. Alake echoed this view, advocating for a collaborative, multi-agency approach through the Special Mines Surveillance Task Force (SMSTF), rather than establishing a new agency. Dr. Alake recommended enhancing SMSTF’s operations with technology, like drones, to improve surveillance across mining areas.
Kiera Jean Okafor, Assistant Director at the Ministry of Interior, also supported strengthening current agencies, especially the NSCDC. She argued that with adequate training, equipment, and cross-agency cooperation, existing security forces could handle illegal mining effectively without creating redundancies.
The opposition highlights a consensus among government ministries and agencies on addressing illegal mining through better coordination and resourcing of existing forces, rather than adding new structures that may lead to duplication of efforts.