Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, commandant general of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has officially deployed highly trained Mining Marshals to each of seven operational zones in the country and decentralised mining enforcement activities.
In a statement, CSC Babawale Afolabi, the National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Headquarters in Abuja, explained that the goal was to reinforce enforcement efforts in the solid minerals industry and to increase operational presence across the country.
Ten (10) operational vehicles have been commissioned by the Corps to assist the Mining Marshals in their field operations as part of this strategic intervention. The statement went on to say that these vehicles, designed for rough terrain and quick deployment, will help with intelligence-led patrols, tactical enforcement, and surveillance in the fight against illicit mining.
The Commandant General, speaking at the commissioning ceremony in Abuja at the NSCDC National Headquarters, characterised the decentralisation as an ambitious operational reform with the goals of increasing the effectiveness of regional response teams and bringing enforcement closer to known mining hotspots.
We are increasing our ability to directly address illicit mining operations by deploying Mining Marshals to each of the seven zones. “Our solid mineral assets are being protected from economic saboteurs by these officers, who have been professionally and lawfully trained,” Professor Audi said.
In addition, he brought up the fact that the project is in line with the federal government’s plan to diversify the economy and that it helps fulfil the Corps’ legal obligation to protect vital national infrastructure and assets.