The Federal Government has reaffirmed its full support for the Mining Marshals of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, describing the special unit as central to the campaign against illegal mining and the drive to reposition the solid minerals sector.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, gave the endorsement at the inauguration of eight newly acquired gun trucks for the Mining Marshals at the NSCDC National Headquarters in Abuja. He said the new assets were part of a broader strategy to strengthen the unit’s capacity to confront powerful interests behind illicit mining operations nationwide.

Alake praised the Mining Marshals for what he called their courage, discipline and sacrifices in the field, noting that their operations have disrupted entrenched criminal networks and protected strategic mineral deposits that are vital to Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda.

He warned individuals, groups and even security personnel allegedly working to undermine the unit’s activities to desist or be treated as economic saboteurs. According to the minister, many of those attacking or blackmailing the Marshals are beneficiaries of an illegal mining ecosystem that has drained public revenue, fuelled insecurity and distorted the operating environment for legitimate investors.

Alake said the government was aware of coordinated attempts to discredit the Marshals through misinformation, harassment and intimidation, but stressed that such tactics would not derail ongoing reforms in the sector. He vowed that the administration would continue to provide the unit with logistics, equipment and institutional backing to enforce mining regulations without fear or favour.

The deployment of the eight gun trucks, he explained, is intended to improve the Marshals’ mobility and response time, enabling them to swiftly dismantle illegal mining sites, secure access routes and safeguard high-value mineral corridors across the country.

Reiterating President Bola Tinubu’s vision of solid minerals as a major pillar of economic growth, Alake said the government is determined to stamp out illegal mining so that the benefits of the country’s mineral wealth accrue to all Nigerians rather than a small network of criminal profiteers.

He called on host communities, traditional rulers, licensed operators and other security agencies to work closely with the Mining Marshals, stressing that protecting mineral resources is a collective responsibility. Those found aiding or abetting illegal mining, he warned, will be identified, investigated and prosecuted in line with existing laws.