Senate Passes Bill to Create Special Mines Rangers Service to Curb Illegal Mining Nationwide

The Senate on Tuesday passed a bill to establish the Nigeria Mines Rangers Service (NMRS), a specialised security agency aimed at combating illegal and artisanal mining activities across the country.

Sponsored by Senator Mohammed Onawo (SDP–Nasarawa), the proposed law seeks to create a legal framework for protecting mining operations, enforcing environmental and safety standards, and promoting sustainable practices within Nigeria’s extractive industry.

Senator Onawo explained that the NMRS would be responsible for curbing illegal mining, rescuing trapped miners, providing emergency medical assistance, investigating mining-related accidents, and ensuring strict compliance with established mining regulations.

During the debate, several lawmakers hailed the bill as a timely and strategic measure to secure mining communities and safeguard national mineral resources from unregulated operators. The bill, which had earlier been reviewed and reported by the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development led by Senator Ekong Samson (Akwa Ibom South), successfully scaled its third reading on Tuesday — a significant milestone toward its enactment.

In his closing remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended the initiative, expressing hope that those who would serve in the new agency would do so with patriotism and integrity. “I pray those who will be working there will have patriotism in their mind and work to stop all illegal activities in our mines,” he stated.

The passage of the NMRS bill comes amid increasing concerns over the economic and security risks associated with illegal mining, which has been linked to environmental damage, revenue losses, and violent conflicts in mineral-rich regions of the country.