By Awwal Umar Kontagora The Commander of the Mining Marshals of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Assistant ...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
The Commander of the Mining Marshals of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Assistant Commandant of Corps (ACC) John Onoja Attah, has warned mining operators across the country against engaging in illegal activities.
Attah gave the warning in a statement issued in Abuja, stressing that anyone who violates mining laws and regulations will face prosecution.
The warning comes against the backdrop of intensified nationwide enforcement operations by the Mining Marshals, as part of renewed efforts to sanitise Nigeria’s solid minerals sector and curb illegal mining.
The specialised enforcement unit said its operational teams, particularly those deployed in the South-West, had made significant progress in ensuring that mining activities comply with existing laws and regulatory requirements.
Attah warned operators against flouting mining regulations, stressing that ignorance of the law would not shield 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 the law.”
Attah said the intensified enforcement drive was aimed not only at tackling illegal mining but also at protecting legitimate investors, improving revenue generation and restoring confidence in a sector that has faced persistent regulatory violations and economic sabotage.
According to him, compliance with mining laws is critical to ensuring that the country’s mineral resources are exploited safely and sustainably, in a manner that contributes to the national economy.
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