Ignorance of Mining Laws No DeThe Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has warned mining operators across the country that ignorance of mining laws and regulations will not protect offenders from prosecution.
The NSCDC said individuals and companies involved in illegal mining activities would face the full weight of the law as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to sanitise Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.
The warning was contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the Commander of the NSCDC Mining Marshals, Assistant Commandant of Corps John Attah.
Attah said the Corps had intensified enforcement operations across the country, particularly in the South-West, to ensure that mining operators comply with established laws and regulatory requirements.
He stressed that all operators must obtain the necessary licences and conduct their activities within the framework of the law.“Ignorance of the law will never be an excuse.
Every operator must ensure that mining activities are conducted within the ambit of the law,” Attah said.“Those who choose to operate outside the regulatory framework will face the full weight of legal consequences.”
According to him, the ongoing enforcement campaign is designed to tackle illegal mining, protect legitimate investors, improve government revenue and restore confidence in Nigeria’s solid minerals industry.
Attah noted that compliance with mining regulations was necessary to ensure that the country’s mineral resources were exploited safely, sustainably and for the benefit of the national economy.
Illegal mining has continued to pose a major challenge to Nigeria’s mining sector, resulting in revenue losses, environmental degradation and the illegal exploitation of valuable mineral resources.
The NSCDC Mining Marshals’ renewed operations form part of broader efforts by the Federal Government to reform and reposition the solid minerals sector as a major contributor to Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda.
Nigeria is richly endowed with commercially viable minerals, including gold, lithium, limestone, coal, bitumen and tin. However, the sector has continued to operate below its potential due to illegal mining, insecurity, weak regulatory enforcement and the activities of unlicensed operators.
Successive administrations have identified the solid minerals sector as a critical alternative source of revenue and foreign exchange as Nigeria seeks to reduce its dependence on crude oil.
The latest enforcement operations also align with the reform agenda of the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, which has intensified efforts to attract investments, strengthen regulatory compliance and clamp down on illegal exploitation of the country’s natural resources.
The ministry has consistently maintained that strict compliance with licensing and other regulatory requirements is essential to protecting investors and unlocking the full economic potential of Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.
