The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Mining Marshals have warned operators in the solid minerals sector that ignorance of mining laws will not exempt them from prosecution.
Commander of the Mining Marshals, Assistant Commandant of Corps John Attah, gave the warning in a statement on Monday.
Attah said operators were expected to familiarise themselves with the relevant laws and obtain the necessary approvals before engaging in mining activities. 
The development came a few days after the NSCDC Mining Marshals intensified enforcement operations nationwide in a renewed push to sanitise Nigeria’s solid minerals sector and curb illegal mining.
The specialised enforcement unit said its operational teams, particularly in the South-West, had recorded progress in efforts to ensure that mining activities comply with existing laws and regulatory requirements.
However, Attah warned operators against flouting mining regulations, stressing that ignorance of the law would not shield offenders from prosecution.
“Ignorance of the law will never be an excuse. Every operator must ensure that mining activities are conducted within the ambit of the law. Those who choose to operate outside the regulatory framework will face the full weight of legal consequences,” he said.
Attah said the ongoing operations were not targeted at legitimate investors but were aimed at ensuring that all mining activities complied with extant laws and regulations.
He explained that the enforcement drive would also help protect legitimate mining operators, improve revenue generation and curb economic losses associated with illegal exploitation of the nation’s mineral resources.
According to him, “lawful, safe and sustainable mining practices” remain critical to unlocking the economic potential of Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.
“The intensified enforcement drive is designed not only to curb illegal mining but also to safeguard legitimate investors, enhance revenue generation and restore integrity to a sector long plagued by regulatory violations and economic sabotage.
“The Mining Marshals have consistently maintained that lawful, safe and sustainable mining practices are central to unlocking the sector’s economic potential,” he said.
Illegal mining has remained a major challenge to the sector, contributing to revenue losses, environmental degradation and the exploitation of mineral resources outside the regulatory framework.
The renewed enforcement campaign is part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to reform the solid minerals sector, which has been identified as a key component of Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda.
Nigeria is endowed with a wide range of commercially viable solid minerals, including gold, lithium, limestone, coal, bitumen and tin, but the sector has continued to operate below its potential amid concerns over illegal mining, insecurity, weak regulation and the activities of unlicensed operators.
Successive governments have sought to reposition the sector as an alternative source of revenue and foreign exchange as the country attempts to reduce its dependence on crude oil.
