By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
Stakeholders in the security and mining community especially traditional rulers, Ministry of Mines and Solid Mineral Development, State governors, National Unity and Peace Corps (NUPC) and several non-governmental organizations have thrown their weight behind the establishment of Nigeria Mines Rangers Service that will curb illegal activities in the mining sector and ensure that miners carry out their activities according to stipulated rules.
Declaring a Public hearing on the Nigeria Mines Rangers Service Bill (SB. 253) open, President of the Nigerian Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio said that the bill is the ensure that activities in the mining sectors are regulated and illegal miners prevented from feeding fat from the nations natural resources.
Represented by Senator Diket Plang, Akpabio stressed the importance of having an active mining sector that will not only become a major contributor to the economy but ensure that host communities are not neglected. He expressed optimism that the bill when passed into law will end illegal mining activities in the country as well as terrorism which has been associated with illegal mining activities in the country.
Also in his address, Chairman Senate Committee on Solid Mineral Development, Sen. Ekong Sampson said that experts, policy makers and relevant stakeholders in the mining sector were invited to ensure that there is comprehensive interface, insights and input on the Bill, to further its legislative progression.
“It is pertinent to acknowledge that the mining industry in Nigeria, having been identified as a veritable pathway to our economic diversification, needs some repositioning, to meet expectations. With its vast potential, the sector deserves every necessary policy attention and legislative intervention to fast-track its full exploration.
“The Nigerian mining industry has, over the years, regrettably, been confronted with grave problems of illegal mining and insecurity. These form some of the sector’s major drawbacks. Nigeria continues to bleed heavily from the activities of some conscienceless mining operators who decapitate our environment, so to say, sabotage our economy and murder, maim and displace our citizens through sponsored banditry.
“However, the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, and indeed the National Assembly, remain committed to exploring necessary trajectories to drive reform in the sector, in our country so hugely blessed with natural resources but challenged by the contradictions of abundance.
“For this sector to meet its goals, there is need for enhanced security framework, both for the Mines, the Miners and communities. There is need for accurate data mechanism, and for collaboration among the tiers of government to stimulate meaningful reform process in the sector” he said.
The sponsor of the Bill, Senator Onawo Mohammed Ogoshi explained that the Bill was conceived to protect the interest of the country and ensure that the incursion of illegal miners is curtailed. He went back to the days when forest guards were established to ensure that our forests were not taken down by illegal log shipping companies. He said that the country has a lot to benefit by establishing Nigeria Mines Rangers Service.
In his presentation, Minister of Solid Mineral Development, Dele Alake who was represented at the public hearing stressed the importance of establishing Nigeria Mines Rangers Service to ensure that mining sites and miners are protected and government does not lose revenue.
According to Alake, “there is need for the creation of Special Mines Surveillance Taskforce comprising of multi-security agencies under the surveillance of the NSA. Deployment of technology and non-kinetic approach like use of drones and sharing of information will tackle the issue of illegal mining across the nation” he said.
The Emir of Yauri, Sarki Zayyanu who was represented at the public hearing, supported the bill.
He said that some of the benefits of establishing the Nigeria Mines Rangers Service are as follows: “It will enforce mining laws and regulations. Protection of natural resources and legal miners.
Prevent illegal mining by monitoring and patrolling mining areas. Promoting environmental sustainability. Enhancing revenue collection and Supporting local communities and curbing exploitation”.
The Nigerian Customs Service, represented by its Director of Policy threw its weight behind the bill. According to the foremost revenue generating agency in the country, “the bill will curb activities on illegal mining since the objective is to prevent illegal mining”.
Also speaking was the Commandant General of National Unity and Peace Corps, Dr. Chinedu Nneji who said that while other nations are making revenue generation from solid minerals their major source of income, Nigeria is still debating whether it will establish an agency that will curb illegal mining activities in the country.
He said that the proposed agency has the capacity to generate its own revenue and will not become a burden to the federal government.
He said, “The target is to raise revenue which will thereafter help the country”. Narrating the volume of revenue generated by other countries who are blessed with natural resources, Nneji continued, “Australia generates $US71billion from mining. South Africa specializes in exporting gold and in 2022 they generated 555bn Rand, about $US33.13billion from gold. Canada generated $71.7billion in a year”.
“We have more than 44 different minerals across the country and yet Nigeria is still looking for revenue. Some advanced countries are not better than us, just that we have refused to use what we have”.
Challenging members of the Senate on the need to ensure that the Bill sees the light of the day, Nneji continued,
“Your duty is to make law, not to reject law. Anybody that says it should not be established is doing a lot of disservice to you”.
To organizations that feel threatened by the establishment of Nigeria Mines Rangers Service, Nneji who received thunderous ovation at the end of his presentation continued, “It will not take over anybody job, it will only augment their services”.
However, some organizations were opposed to passage of the Bill including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ministry of Interior and The Nigeria Army.
Ministry of Interior represented by Geraldine Okafor an Assistant Director, appreciated the efforts and resources put out in the crafting of the bill.
According to her, “there are other agencies that are already doing what the proposed agencies intends to do especially Civil Defence.
“If a department of NSCDC is trained and miners Taskforce already in place are well equipped, they can combat this menace”.
Mohammed Audi, NSCDC Commandant General, said that the Corps has a special unit trained by the military that are tackling illegal mining across the country.
“We are strongly opposed to this bill as presently constitution. It is an infringement on the core mandate of NSCDC and an attempt to usurp the mandate given to NSCDC.
“It appears to be an attempt to take the mandate of this agency by an organization that is not armed. We feel that creating another agency will be a duplication of duties”.
