NSCDC Deploys Mining Marshals Nationwide to Tackle Illegal Mining

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has launched a major initiative to strengthen mining enforcement by deploying Mining Marshals across seven operational zones of the country.

The move, led by Commandant General Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, marks a significant shift toward decentralized enforcement in the solid minerals sector. 

As part of the rollout, the Corps has commissioned 10 rugged operational vehicles to aid the Mining Marshals in their field duties. These vehicles are designed for rapid response, surveillance, and intelligence-led patrols in challenging terrains where illegal mining thrives.

“These officers have been equipped and trained to engage professionally and lawfully in protecting our solid mineral assets from economic saboteurs,” said Prof. Audi at the commissioning ceremony in Abuja.

This decentralization effort brings enforcement closer to key mining hotspots, empowering zonal teams to respond swiftly to illegal operations and threats to national assets.

According to CSC Babawale Afolabi, NSCDC National Public Relations Officer, the initiative represents a strategic intervention in the ongoing fight against the economic sabotage of Nigeria’s mineral wealth.

“This reform aligns with the Federal Government’s economic diversification agenda,” Prof. Audi added, noting that protecting solid minerals is crucial for national growth and infrastructure development.