NUPEC Seeks Mining Security Investment, Passage Of Mines Rangers Bill

The Commandant General of the National Unity and Peace Corps (NUPEC) and Nigeria Mines Ranger Services (NMRS), Dr Chinedu S. Nneji, has called for stronger investment in the protection and responsible management of Nigeria’s mineral resources, warning that illegal mining, environmental degradation and competition over natural resources could undermine peace and security in affected communities.

Nneji made the call on Monday, 21 September 2026, at the NUPEC/NMRS Command Headquarters in Abuja, while marking the 2026 United Nations International Day of Peace, themed, “Invest in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day.”

He said the country’s approach to peace must extend beyond preventing violence to addressing the economic and resource-related factors that can fuel conflicts, particularly in communities affected by mining activities.

According to him, illegal mining poses multiple challenges to Nigeria, including threats to community security, environmental damage, loss of government revenue and the weakening of legitimate mining operations.

Nneji said effective management of Nigeria’s mineral resources was critical to maintaining peace in mining communities and to unlocking the sector’s economic potential.

He noted that competition for land and mineral resources, combined with unemployment and environmental degradation, could heighten tensions in communities across the country.

He therefore called for coordinated action involving government institutions, security agencies, mining stakeholders and host communities to address illegal mining and other challenges affecting the sector.

Against this backdrop, the NUPEC/NMRS chief renewed his call for the establishment of a specialised Nigeria Mines Rangers Service, saying a properly regulated and professional service would strengthen security around mining operations and mineral-rich communities.

He said the National Assembly had considered the Nigeria Mines Rangers (Establishment) Bill, including Senate Bill 523, which, according to him, had been passed and transmitted to the House of Representatives for concurrence.

“We believe that the establishment of an effective, professional and properly regulated Mines Rangers Service, working in collaboration with existing security agencies and relevant government institutions, can strengthen the protection of mining communities and legitimate mining activities.”

Nneji said the proposed Mines Rangers Service could play an important role in protecting Nigeria’s mineral resources, improving compliance with mining regulations and supporting efforts to curb illegal mining.

He added that reducing illicit mining activities could also help expand legitimate mining operations and increase government revenue from the country’s mineral wealth.

Nneji appealed to the National Assembly and the executive arm of government to support measures to strengthen security and responsible resource management in the mining sector.

He specifically urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to assent to the proposed legislation if and when it reaches his desk.

“We therefore call on the President and the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to grant his assent anytime the Bill gets to his table.”

According to him, enactment of the legislation would strengthen the institutional framework for tackling illegal mining and related criminal activities while helping Nigeria derive greater economic benefits from its mineral resources.

His comments come amid continuing concerns over illegal mining and its impact on communities, the environment and government revenue. Nneji also commiserated with the Federal Government over the reported deaths of 37 alleged illegal miners in Niger State.

The NUPEC/NMRS commandant linked conflicts in parts of the country to competition over land and natural resources, arguing that insecurity in resource-rich areas requires more than conventional security responses.

He said communities from the Niger Delta to the Sahel face interconnected challenges involving natural resources, livelihoods, unemployment and security.

Nneji advocated a combination of dialogue, law enforcement, responsible management of land and mineral resources, protection of livelihoods and community-based peacebuilding.

He said conflicts, including farmer-herder disputes, could not be resolved by a single institution or by a single approach.

According to him, protecting legitimate economic activities and ensuring that communities benefit from natural resources are important elements of sustainable peace.

Mining as an economic opportunity, Nneji also urged greater investment in opportunities for young Nigerians, particularly in communities where unemployment and economic hardship could make illegal activities more attractive.

He said that investment in education, youth empowerment, and legitimate economic opportunities should be part of the broader strategy for tackling insecurity and illegal mining.

“Let us invest in peace instead of conflict. Let us invest in dialogue instead of confrontation. Let us invest in education rather than in ignorance. Let us invest in opportunities instead of desperation,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to promote justice, unity and dialogue while calling for stronger institutional cooperation to protect the country’s natural resources.

Nneji also expressed support for President Tinubu’s re-election bid, urging Nigerians to support the President for a second term to enable him to continue what Nneji described as the work his administration had started.

He concluded by stressing that peace in mining communities and across the country would require deliberate investment, effective institutions and responsible management of Nigeria’s natural resources.

“Peace does not happen by accident. Peace must be deliberately built, protected and sustained,” he said.