ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigeria’s civil defence authorities have warned mining operators that claiming ignorance of the law will not protect them from prosecution as the government steps up efforts to curb illegal mining across the country.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps said its Mining Marshals have intensified enforcement operations, particularly in the southwest, as part of a wider campaign to ensure miners comply with licensing requirements and other regulations governing the solid minerals industry.
John Attah, commander of the Mining Marshals, said operators must understand the rules governing their activities and ensure that their businesses remain within the law. “Ignorance of the law will never be an excuse,” he said.
Attah warned that miners who operate outside the legal framework could face prosecution, adding that stronger enforcement is intended not only to stop illegal mining but also to protect companies that have obtained legitimate licences.
Illegal mining has long been a problem in Nigeria, where unlicensed operators have been blamed for lost government revenue, environmental damage and conflicts over access to mineral rich land. Authorities have also expressed concern that proceeds from illegal mining can become linked to organised crime and insecurity.
Nigeria has significant deposits of gold, lithium, limestone, tin, coal, bitumen and other minerals, but the sector has historically contributed far less to the economy than the oil industry. Successive governments have tried to develop mining as an alternative source of jobs, export earnings and government revenue.
The government created the Mining Marshals in March 2024 as part of a new security strategy for the sector. The initial force included about 2,220 specially trained NSCDC personnel deployed across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to protect mining sites and enforce mining laws.
The unit has since carried out raids, shut illegal sites and brought suspects before the courts. By July 2026, the NSCDC said its Mining Marshals had arrested 671 suspected illegal miners, with 397 of them arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The enforcement campaign also forms part of President Bola Tinubu’s broader effort to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on crude oil by attracting more investment into solid minerals. The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has also moved to review mining licence fees, strengthen regulation and introduce additional technology to monitor mining activities.
Attah said compliance will be essential if Nigeria is to develop its mineral resources safely and sustainably while ensuring that communities, legitimate investors and the wider economy benefit from the country’s natural wealth. Authorities say enforcement operations will continue against operators who fail to meet legal and regulatory requirements.
