Senate passes bill to establish mine rangers

The Senate on Tuesday passed a bill seeking to establish the Nigeria Mines Rangers Service, aimed at tackling illegal mining activities across the country as part of efforts to strengthen oversight in the mining sector. This followed the consideration and adoption of a report of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development, chaired by Senator […]

The Senate on Tuesday passed a bill seeking to establish the Nigeria Mines Rangers Service, aimed at tackling illegal mining activities across the country as part of efforts to strengthen oversight in the mining sector.

This followed the consideration and adoption of a report of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development, chaired by Senator Ekong Samson (Akwa Ibom South).

The bill, sponsored by Senator Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo, is aimed at providing a legal framework for safeguarding mining operations, enforcing environmental and safety regulations, and promoting sustainable mining practices in the country.

It is also aimed at safeguarding mining operations, enforcing mining environmental and safety regulations, and promoting sustainable mining practices in the country.

Senators who spoke during the session described the proposed Mine Rangers Service as a timely initiative that would protect mining communities and secure natural resource sites from the menace of unregulated operators.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the session, assured that the bill would help improve regulation and enforcement under the existing Mining Act, if assented to by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.