The Senate has on Tuesday passed a bill to establish the Nigeria Mines Rangers Service (NMRS) – a specialised security agency designed to combat illegal and artisanal mining activities in the country.

The passage of the NMRS bill is a sequel amid growing concerns over the economic losses and security threats posed by illegal mining, which has been linked to environmental degradation, revenue leakage, and violent conflicts in mineral-rich regions.

The bill sponsored by Senator Mohammed Onawo, representing Nasarawa South, aims to create a legal framework for safeguarding mining operations, enforcing environmental and safety regulations, and promoting sustainable mining practices in Nigeria’s extractive sector.

Senator Onawo said the NMRS will be tasked with responsibilities such as curbing illegal mining, rescuing trapped miners, providing emergency medical response, investigating mining accidents, and ensuring compliance with mining standards.

“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 the deliberations on the bill, numerous legislators characterized the proposed Mine Rangers Service as a timely initiative poised to safeguard mining communities and secure natural resource sites from the threat posed by unregulated operators.

The bill, previously reviewed and reported by the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development, chaired by Senator Ekong Samson of Akwa Ibom South, passed its third reading on Tuesday, representing a significant legislative milestone on the path to its eventual establishment.

In his concluding remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio lauded the intent of the bill and urged dedication from those who would ultimately serve in the new agency.

He said, “I hope those who will be employed there will harbor a sense of patriotism and endeavor to halt all illegal activities in our mines.”