By Mercy Aikoye
The House of Representatives has ordered a sweeping investigation into the operations, funding and legal status of the Mining Marshals following allegations of corruption, including claims that more than N2 billion was discovered in the bank account of a former State Commander of the unit.
The resolution was adopted on Wednesday after the House considered and passed a motion sponsored by Hon. Abdulmaleek Danga, who raised concerns over the conduct of the specialised security outfit established to combat illegal mining across the country.
The House directed its Committee on Solid Minerals Development to investigate the allegations and determine whether the Mining Marshals are operating within the limits of their legal mandate.
Leading the debate, Danga recalled that the Mining Marshals Corps was inaugurated on March 21, 2024, by the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Interior. The unit, made up of over 2,200 personnel drawn from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), was established to protect mining sites, curb illegal mining, tackle insecurity in mineral-rich communities and safeguard government revenue from the solid minerals sector.
However, the lawmaker alleged that the unit had strayed from its original mandate.
According to him, reports indicate that some personnel lack adequate knowledge of the mining industry, resulting in the harassment and arrest of legitimate mineral title holders while presenting such operations as successful crackdowns on illegal miners.
More significantly, Danga drew the attention of the House to allegations of financial misconduct involving a former State Commander of the Mining Marshals, in whose bank account over N2 billion was reportedly discovered.
He expressed concern that rather than facing prosecution, a judicial inquiry or internal disciplinary measures, the officer was allegedly redeployed, a development that has fuelled suspicions of compromise and collusion with illegal mining syndicates.
The lawmaker also questioned the financial management of the unit, citing the procurement and deployment of operational vehicles without any clear record of legislative appropriation or budgetary provision through the NSCDC or other government agencies.
He warned that the alleged financial irregularities and operational lapses could undermine efforts to sanitise the mining sector, encourage revenue leakages, worsen insecurity and erode investor confidence in Nigeria’s solid minerals industry.
Following the adoption of the motion, the House mandated the Committee on Solid Minerals Development to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the activities of the Mining Marshals across the federation.
The committee is expected to examine allegations of corrupt enrichment, including the reported N2 billion account linked to a former State Commander, investigate similar allegations across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, scrutinise the source of funds used to procure operational vehicles, and review all external financial inflows and budgetary provisions relating to the unit.
It will also assess whether the creation, structure and composition of the Mining Marshals comply with existing legal and statutory provisions, with a view to recommending a legally compliant and internationally recognised security framework for protecting Nigeria’s mining sector.
The committee is to submit its report to the House within four weeks for further legislative action.
