The Federal Government, under the leadership of Bola Tinubu, has officially inaugurated the Mines Marshals, a specialized paramilitary unit dedicated to combating illegal mining activities in Nigeria. The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, announced the launch of the Marshals during a ceremony held in Abuja on Thursday.
Alake highlighted that the Mines Marshals, derived from a unit within the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), will play a crucial role in preventing the illegal smuggling of solid minerals out of the country. This initiative aligns with the government’s commitment to enforcing strict regulations and ensuring that mining activities contribute to the nation’s economic growth.
In a recent statement, Minister Alake emphasized that mining licenses will only be granted to investors who demonstrate plans for value addition to the minerals. This strategic move aims to stimulate local processing and refining industries, thereby creating more job opportunities and economic benefits within Nigeria.
The Minister’s Seven-Point Agenda for the mining sector has placed Nigeria’s mineral resources in the spotlight, attracting increased interest from the international community. Alake’s efforts were recognized at the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he was elected as the Chairman of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG). This development signifies a unified approach across the African continent towards promoting local value addition and beneficiation of mineral resources.
Alake stated, “We are no longer going to allow anybody or license any company that wants to go into the mineral sector without giving us a plan for local value addition… These minerals must now be processed in Nigeria, creating more value and beneficiation for local communities where they are sourced.