The Nigerian Senate has passed the Nigeria Mines Rangers Service (Establishment) Bill, 2025, a legislative move aimed at curbing illegal mining activities and enhancing security and regulation in the nation’s solid minerals sector.

The passage followed the consideration and adoption of a report presented by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development, Senator Ekong Samson, during plenary on Tuesday.

According to the report, the proposed Mines Rangers Service will function as a specialized enforcement agency responsible for safeguarding mining sites, protecting mineral resources, and ensuring strict compliance with the country’s mining and environmental laws.

Senator Samson explained that the establishment of the service became necessary due to the rising cases of illegal mining, environmental degradation, and loss of government revenue resulting from unregulated mineral exploration across several states.

“The Mines Rangers Service will play a critical role in supporting lawful mining operations, curbing criminal infiltration in mining areas, and protecting Nigeria’s vast mineral assets,” Senator Samson said.

In his remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended the committee for its work and expressed confidence that the bill, once signed into law, would strengthen oversight, enhance enforcement capacity, and promote sustainable development in the mining industry.

“This legislation will provide a strong framework for regulating mining activities and ensuring that the benefits of our natural resources contribute meaningfully to national growth,” Akpabio stated.

The Mines Rangers Service is expected to operate under the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and collaborate with existing security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), to ensure effective field operations.

The bill will now be transmitted to the House of Representatives for concurrence before being forwarded to the President for assent.

Observers say the initiative marks a major step toward institutionalizing security and transparency in Nigeria’s mining sector, which has been plagued by illegal extraction, community conflicts, and revenue leakages for years.