Nigerian Government Rejects Bill To Establish Security Outfit For Mining Sites

The Nigerian government has rejected a bill seeking to establish a special security outfit that would specifically secure mining sites in the country.

It however urged the Senate to adopt the already created Special Mines Surveillance Task Force (SMSTF) to curb illegal mining in the country.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, his counterpart in the Ministry of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, made this call during a public hearing on a Bill which seeks to establish the “Nigeria Mine Rangers Service” organised by the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals in Abuja.

The bill was titled: “Bill to establish Nigeria Mines Rangers Service (NMRS)” and it was sponsored by the senator representing Nasarawa South Senatorial District, Senator Onawo Ogoshi.

Mr. Alake, who was represented by Engr. Umar Bala, an official from the mining ministry’s inspectorate department, argued that the proposed outfit would duplicate the agency’s activities of monitoring illegal mining operations in the country.

He said rather than establishing a new security agency, the National Assembly could make laws to strengthen the operation of the Special Mines Surveillance Task Force which is the government’s primary security agency monitoring mining operations.

“The special mines surveillance task force comprises more security agencies who operate under the coordination of the National Security Adviser under the supervision of the Ministry of Solid Mineral Development.

“It offers the best option as an integrated approach to combating illegal mining activities. If the government does not collaborate and share intelligence as an integrated approach, effectively combating illegal mining could be elusive.

“I therefore call on the Senate committee to consider and adopt the special Mines Surveillance Task Force and its standard operation procedure.

“It is a better alternative to the Nigerian Mines Ranger Service because the mine surveillance task force comprises all the security agencies and they work together to tackle the issue of illegal mining activities across the nation.”

Mr. Alake recommended deploying technological devices to monitor and curb illegal mining activities.

“The deployment of technology such as unmanned aerial vehicles or drones specifically targeted to the mining sector can complement the current kinetic approach of surveillance by providing real-time information in digital format,” he added.

Also, an Assistant Director at the Ministry of Interior, Geraldine Okafor, argued that creating a new agency would duplicate the functions of the existing mining security agency.

She said rather than creating another agency, the government should better equip personnel of the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to carry out the task.

“The Ministry is of the view that if the existing agencies especially the civil defence is well equipped, trained along with other mines task force, they can do a lot of this work rather than duplicating this assignment,” she said.

Also, the Attorney General of Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi represented by the Director of Legal Drafting in the Ministry, Mr. Patrick Eta Oyon, opposed the creation of the proposed Nigeria Mines Rangers Service.

Fagbemi said the agency would amount to duplication of functions and called for the amendment of the NSCDC Act to widen the duties of the NSCDC to include those of the proposed agency.

On his part, the Commandant General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ahmed Audi, said there is a unit under the agency that also can provide security for mining sites.

“We are strongly opposed to the provision of this bill as presently constituted. We vehemently hold that the proposed establishment of the Nigerian Mines Rangers and their function is an infringement on the core mandate of NSCDC.

“The bill is not just a duplication of the NSCDC Act and its mandate, it is also an attempt to usurp the mandates that are still given to the Corps, and in a disguised way, handing it over to the police through the back,” he said.

The NSCDC Commandant claimed that the Corps has destroyed over 100 illegal mining sites, arrested more than 50 suspects, including foreign nationals, and currently has over 30 cases in court.

However, the Commandant General of the National Unity and Peace Corps, (NUPEC), Chinedu Nneji, and a representative of the Nigeria Customs Service, Timi Imodi, supported the creation of the Nigeria Mine Rangers.

Defending the bill, Senator Ogoshi argued that the existing security agencies monitoring mining operations have not been effective in curbing illegal mining activities in the country.

The Chairman of the Committee on Solid Minerals Development, Senator Ekong Sampson, said the investigative work of the panel is presently being hampered by dubious illegal miners.Senator Sampson said all submissions of those who spoke at the public hearing would be considered.