The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it has helped increase the country’s mining royalty revenue from N6 billion to N38 billion through intensified efforts to combat illegal mining activities.
Commandant General of the Corps, Dr. Ahmed Audi, made this known while delivering a keynote address at the Second CG’s Quarterly Conference held in Abuja. The conference brought together top-ranking officers, including Deputy Commandant Generals, Assistant Commandant Generals, and State Commandants.
Dr. Audi revealed that over 1,000 illegal mining sites across the country have been dismantled by the Corps as part of its statutory mandate to protect critical national assets and infrastructure.
As part of new measures to strengthen oversight, the CG announced the decentralisation of mining operations to zonal commands and commissioned 10 new operational vehicles to enhance field operations. He tasked zonal commanders to work closely with the National Mining Commander to protect licensed operators, secure mining sites, and arrest illegal operators.
“We must ensure that Nigeria is not a dumping ground for illegal mining activities,” he said.
On food security, the NSCDC boss urged officers to increase protection for farming communities through the Agro Rangers unit, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” to enhance food sufficiency.
He also reaffirmed the Corps’ commitment to school safety, noting improvements in the National Safe Schools Response Coordination Centre (NSSRCC) located at the NSCDC headquarters.
The CG stated that the quarterly conference serves to assess performance, address challenges, and reinforce the Corps’ role in tackling emerging threats to national security.
