By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
On Tuesday, the Senate passed a bill aimed at creating the Nigeria Mines Rangers Service (NMRS), a specialised security unit tasked with addressing illegal and artisanal mining activities nationwide.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Mohammed Onawo (SDP–Nasarawa), seeks to establish a legal framework for protecting mining operations, enforcing environmental and safety standards, and encouraging sustainable mining practices within Nigeria’s extractive industry.
According to Onawo, the NMRS will undertake key responsibilities including curbing illegal mining, rescuing trapped miners, providing emergency medical assistance, investigating mining incidents, and ensuring adherence to mining regulations.
“The establishment of the Nigeria Mines Rangers Service,” he said, “will help to safeguard mining operations, enforce mining environmental and safety regulations, and promote sustainable mining practices in Nigeria.”
During discussions on the bill, several lawmakers praised the initiative, describing it as timely and necessary for protecting mining communities and securing mineral-rich sites from unregulated operators.
The bill, which had been reviewed and reported by the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development, chaired by Senator Ekong Samson (Akwa Ibom South), passed its third reading on Tuesday, marking a critical step toward its formal establishment.
In his concluding remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio lauded the purpose of the bill and emphasised the need for dedication among future members of 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 said.
The approval of the NMRS bill comes against the backdrop of rising concerns over the economic and security challenges posed by illegal mining, which has contributed to environmental damage, loss of revenue, and violent conflicts in mineral-rich areas.