The federal government has intensified efforts to combat illegal mining across the country with the expanded deployment of Mining Marshals for intelligence gathering, compliance monitoring and operational oversight in the solid minerals sector.

The move, according to a statement issued by the Commander of Mining Marshals Operations and Assistant Commandant of Corps, Attah Onoja, on Wednesday, is aimed at strengthening enforcement and improving regulatory compliance within the mining industry.

Onoja disclosed that the Mining Marshals are now actively participating in investigations, fact-finding missions and intelligence operations coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development.

He explained that the marshals recently joined ministry officials on operational visits to mining locations in Nasarawa State and Plateau State as part of the government’s renewed push against illegal mining activities.

The operations were conducted under the supervision of the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Oladele Alake, with the ministry saying the initiative was designed to strengthen monitoring and improve operational oversight across mining communities.

According to the statement, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Faruk Yusuf Yabo, represented the minister during several of the field operations.

It added that one of the missions involved a visit to a mining site allegedly being illegally exploited in order to verify reports of unlawful activities and assess compliance with existing mining regulations.

“The visit was part of efforts to verify allegations of unlawful mining activities, assess compliance with extant mining regulations and obtain field-based information necessary for administrative, regulatory and possible enforcement actions,” the statement noted.

The delegation also included Director of Special Duties, Engr. Frank Odoom; Director of Mines Inspectorate, Engr. Imam A. Ganiyu; Director of Legal Services, Andrew Zubiri; and Ibrahim Abdulmajeed, who represented the Director-General of the Mining Cadastre Office.

The ministry said the engagements provided an avenue for mining communities to communicate concerns relating to illegal mining, environmental practices, insecurity and regulatory compliance directly to government officials.

It added that the Mining Marshals would continue supporting enforcement operations nationwide through intelligence support, operational collaboration and inter-agency coordination.

(LEADERSHIP)