ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria’s Senate has passed a bill to establish the Nigeria Mines Rangers Service, a new security agency tasked with combating illegal and artisanal mining across the country.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Mohammed Onawo of Nasarawa State, aims to create a legal framework for protecting mining operations and enforcing environmental and safety standards in the extractive sector.
Under the proposed legislation, the Mines Rangers would be responsible for curbing illegal mining, rescuing trapped workers, responding to emergencies, investigating accidents, and ensuring compliance with national mining regulations.
Onawo said the initiative would promote sustainable mining practices and safeguard communities affected by unregulated operations. He described the service as essential to restoring order in Nigeria’s mineral-rich regions.
Lawmakers supporting the bill said the new agency would help secure natural resource sites and reduce the economic and security risks posed by illegal mining, which has been linked to environmental damage and violent conflict.
The legislation was reviewed and approved by the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development, chaired by Senator Ekong Samson of Akwa Ibom South. It passed its third reading on Tuesday, moving closer to full enactment.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio praised the bill’s intent and urged future personnel of the Mines Rangers Service to act with integrity and patriotism. “I pray those who will be working there will have patriotism in their mind and work to stop all illegal activities in our mines,” he said.
The bill’s passage comes amid growing concern over Nigeria’s inability to regulate its mining sector, which has suffered from revenue losses and environmental degradation due to widespread illegal activity.
Experts say the lack of enforcement has allowed criminal networks to exploit mineral resources, often at the expense of local communities and national development.
If signed into law, the Nigeria Mines Rangers Service would become a specialized force within the broader effort to reform and secure the country’s mining industry.
