Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake has inaugurated the inaugural batch of the Mining Marshals Corps to combat illegal mining, with the presentation taking place in Abuja on Thursday.
Alake announced that the mining marshals are selected from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). He explained that the NSCDC, being a nationwide paramilitary organization, will deploy units across the country to collaborate with federal mines officers at state and local government levels to tackle illegal mining activities comprehensively.
“On assumption of office, we announced the seven-point agenda as the strategy to position the solid minerals sector for domestic growth and international competitiveness.
“A crucial component of the agenda is the transformation of the security architecture to combine ground troops with innovative technology. he added.
He further mentioned the establishment of an inter-ministerial committee on the protection of natural resources, which he chairs, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the country’s mines, forests, and coastal areas.
The presentation of the mining marshals, Alake noted, is a tangible result of this strategy to combat illegal mining effectively.
