The Nigerian Senate has passed a bill that will establish the Nigeria Mines Rangers Service, a dedicated security agency designed to confront illegal and unregulated mining activities nationwide.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Mohammed Onawo (SDP–Nasarawa), aims to introduce a legal structure for protecting mining sites, ensuring safety compliance, and supporting environmentally responsible mining practices across the country.
Speaking on the floor of the Senate during the bill’s third reading on Tuesday, Onawo emphasized the significance of the new agency in addressing the growing menace of illegal mining.
“The Nigeria Mines Rangers Service will help to safeguard mining operations, enforce mining environmental and safety regulations, and promote sustainable mining practices in Nigeria,” he said.
The NMRS, once operational, will be responsible for a wide range of tasks including clamping down on illegal mining activities, conducting rescues of trapped miners, offering emergency medical support, investigating mine-related accidents, and ensuring adherence to national mining standards.
The bill had earlier passed through committee review under the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development, chaired by Senator Ekong Samson (Akwa Ibom South), before scaling its third and final reading.
During the debate, several lawmakers described the NMRS initiative as a necessary response to growing security threats and economic sabotage in the mining sector. They noted the widespread environmental damage and revenue losses caused by unregulated mining, especially in mineral-rich regions.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, in his closing remarks, endorsed the bill and urged for a patriotic mindset among those who will eventually work in the agency.
“I pray those who will be working there will have patriotism in their mind and work to stop all illegal activities in our mines,” Akpabio stated.
