Bill To Establish Mines Rangers Hits Rock
Bill to Establish Nigerian Mines Rangers Services Hits Rock at Senate Public Hearing on Thursday as Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Justice, Nigeria Army and others opposed the Bill.
The NSCDC faulted the Bill, describing it as a duplicating it’s core responsibility in its entirety, says the bill is an attempt to usurp and transfer the corps’ constitutional responsibilities through the backdoor.
The Commandant-General of the Corps, Ahmed Audi, while presenting the position of the Corps before the Senate Committee on Solide Minerals, stakeholders, and the general public at the public hearing in Abuja on Thursday argued that, establishment of the proposed NMRS was a deliberate plan to weaken the ongoing fight against illegal mining in the country.
Audi observed that, the Corps in collaboration with the ministry of Solid Minerals Development have established Mining Marshal which effort in the fight against illegal mining is high on the scale
Highlighting the achievements of the Marshal, he said, over 50 vandals have been arrested. Those arrested include Chinese nationals. Adding that, in Kogi State, the Corps Marshals have dismantled 34 Bandit camps.
Speaking further, Mr. Audi said the Corps have introduced sanity, such that prospective miners are now seeking licences.
He begged the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals not to allow the bill to scale through.
In addition to NSCDC, the Nigerian Army, Ministry of Interior, Federal Ministry of Justice were also opposed to the establishment of Bill for the establishment Nigerian Mines Rangers Services.
They argued, the NMRC Bill is a duplication of the core mandate of the NSCDC. They unanimously advised that instead of creating a new agency, the personnel capacity of the NSCDC should be expanded. Funding and training for the Corps should also be prioritised as well as prioritizing the procurement of advanced technology(s) for the Corps which promised effectiveness and efficiency in the fight against vandals and illegal miners in the country
The Bill aims to prevent, combat illegal mining, artisanal mining and other crimes in the mining sector and was sponsored by Senator Ogoshi Onawo, Senator representing Nasarawa South.
