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Mining industry

Partnership Aims to Strengthen Nigeria's Fight Against Illegal Mining

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A new partnership between the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Mining Marshals aims to strengthen Nigeria's fight against illegal mining and boost the value of the country's mineral resources. The alliance was sealed during a courtesy visit by a delegation of the NSCDC Mining Marshals, led by Commander ACC Attah John Onoja, to the RMRDC headquarters in Maitama, Abuja. The partnership seeks to align mineral extraction with national laws, contribute to economic growth, and ensure that those who exploit resources illegally are held accountable.

Key Takeaways:

  • The partnership aims to strengthen Nigeria's fight against illegal mining and boost the value of the country's mineral resources.
  • The NSCDC Mining Marshals will collaborate with RMRDC on data access, technical expertise, and support for criminal prosecution of offenders.
  • RMRDC will provide resources to support the NSCDC's operations, including data sharing, joint training programs, laboratory analysis of minerals, and technical support.
  • The partnership aims to bridge the gap between enforcement agencies, regulators, and research institutions to manage Nigeria's vast but underutilized mineral endowments.
  • Cooperation between RMRDC and NSCDC is expected to provide the missing link in building a regulated, data-driven mining sector.
  • The partnership seeks to align science and security, data and discipline to address the issue of illegal mining in Nigeria.

Statistics:

  • Nigeria's solid minerals sector is grappling with widespread illegal activities that deprive the government of revenue, fuel insecurity, and undermine formal investment.
  • The partnership aims to address the issue of illegal mining, which is a major challenge in Nigeria's solid minerals sector.
  • The NSCDC Mining Marshals have been working to provide on-ground security for mineral mapping exercises, especially in high-risk terrains where researchers and technical experts are most vulnerable.
  • The RMRDC has a long history of working on research and development of Nigeria's mineral resources, including geological mapping and mineral prospecting.
  • The partnership between RMRDC and NSCDC is expected to benefit from the expertise of both institutions in managing Nigeria's mineral resources.

Sources:

  • Daily Trust, "NSCDC, RMRDC Partner to Tackle Illegal Mining" (2025)
  • AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com)

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