The Commander of the Mining Marshals, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Assistant Commandant Attah John Onoja, has called for strategic resource nationalism, responsible mineral exploitation and stronger security of Nigeria’s solid mineral resources to drive economic diversification and sustainable national development.
Onoja made the call while delivering a keynote presentation at the 4th Nigerian Nation Builders Annual Conference in Abuja, themed, “Effective Harnessing and Utilization of Solid Minerals as Panacea for Nation Building in Nigeria”
Addressing participants drawn from government institutions, the private sector, academia and civil society, the Mining Marshals Commander described Nigeria’s vast mineral deposits as strategic national assets capable of strengthening economic sovereignty, creating employment, stimulating industrialisation and reducing dependence on crude oil.
He, however, noted that the sector continues to contend with illegal mining, regulatory violations, revenue leakages and limited value addition despite the abundance of commercially viable minerals across the country.
Onoja warned that illegal mining had evolved beyond an economic and environmental challenge into a national security concern, noting that criminal exploitation of mineral resources could fuel banditry, terrorism, money laundering and substantial revenue losses.
He said meaningful nation building required the protection of strategic national assets from criminal networks while ensuring that legitimate mining operators and host communities benefit from the sustainable development of the sector.
Drawing from the operational experience of the Mining Marshals, Onoja disclosed that the specialised unit had restored more than 100 mining sites to their rightful owners and made approximately 700 arrests linked to illegal mining, with several cases currently before the Federal High Court.
According to him, the Mining Marshals were established as a strategic security intervention to complement Federal Government efforts to sanitise the mining sector, protect legitimate title holders and investments, secure mining communities and create a conducive environment for responsible investment.
He identified the formalisation of artisanal mining, improved data transparency, local value addition and enforceable community development agreements as critical measures for building a sustainable mining ecosystem.
Onoja also advocated what he termed “Strategic Resource Nationalism,” urging Nigeria to place national interests at the centre of the management and utilisation of its strategic mineral resources.
He maintained that the country’s minerals should not be treated merely as commodities for export, but as instruments for industrialisation, technological advancement, job creation and national prosperity.
The Commander further observed that the geographical distribution of mineral resources across the country’s geopolitical zones provided an opportunity to strengthen local economies, promote inclusive development and reduce dependence on federal allocations and crude oil revenues.
He commended the strategic leadership of the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, saying his administration had continued to strengthen the Corps’ operational capacity, professionalism and role in protecting critical national assets.
Onoja noted that the establishment and sustained operations of specialised interventions such as the Mining Marshals reflected the Corps’ commitment to addressing emerging security challenges within the extractive sector.
The conference also featured commendation for the Mining Marshals’ contribution to protecting Nigeria’s mineral wealth.
Representing the Chairman of the Occasion, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, Rear Admiral Olusanya Bankole (Rtd.) commended Onoja for his courage, professionalism and commitment to national service.
Bankole also recognised the leadership of the Mining Marshals and their operational efforts in combating illegal mining, protecting legitimate mining interests, safeguarding national revenue and supporting efforts to restore investor confidence in the sector.
Onoja consequently called for sustained collaboration among government institutions, security agencies, the legislature, judiciary, traditional institutions, host communities and legitimate investors to strengthen the protection and responsible exploitation of Nigeria’s mineral resources.
He stressed that the true value of Nigeria’s mineral wealth lies not merely in what exists beneath the soil, but in its capacity to generate employment, support industries, improve livelihoods and contribute meaningfully to national development.
The conference reaffirmed the strategic importance of solid minerals to Nigeria’s economic transformation and the role of security institutions in ensuring that the nation’s mineral resources are protected, responsibly harnessed and translated into prosperity for its citizens.
