Nigerian Senate has passed the Nigeria Mines Rangers Service Establishment Bill 2025, marking a significant step toward curbing illegal mining and bolstering regulatory oversight in the country's burgeoning solid minerals sector.
The bill, which scaled its third reading after consideration in the Committee of the Whole, establishes a specialized enforcement agency tasked with securing mining sites nationwide and ensuring strict compliance with the Mining Act.
Presented by Ekong Samson, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development, the legislation aims to deploy "eyes on the ground" personnel to monitor resource extraction and protect investments amid rising illegal activities.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio hailed the move as a "timely intervention" during Tuesday's plenary, stating: “This is a timely intervention that will strengthen our regulatory framework and ensure that Nigeria’s mineral resources are properly managed.”
He emphasized its role in improving enforcement under existing laws, positioning it as a cornerstone for sustainable mining governance.
Supporting the bill, Senator Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South) underscored its practical impact: “If established, the Rangers service will be physically present at mining sites across the country.
They will serve as the eyes on the ground to monitor the extraction of our national resources.” Maidoki added: “With major mining investors now operating in Nigeria, there is an urgent need to provide adequate protection for investments and ensure the country benefits fully from its mineral wealth.”
The passage comes amid federal reports of six-fold gains in mining reforms, including $800 million in new investments, highlighting Nigeria's push to diversify beyond oil.
Illegal mining has long plagued the sector, leading to environmental degradation, revenue losses, and security risks in resource-rich states.
The bill now awaits House of Representatives concurrence and presidential assent from President Bola Tinubu.
Once enacted, the Mines Rangers Service could transform site-level security, deterring artisanal excesses and fostering investor confidence in a market projected to grow exponentially.
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