The Senate on Tuesday passed a bill establishing the Nigeria Mines Rangers Service (NMRS), a specialised security agency designed to curb illegal and artisanal mining across the country.

Sponsored by Senator Mohammed Onawo (SDP-Nasarawa), the legislation seeks to provide a formal security structure to safeguard mining sites, enforce environmental and safety regulations, and promote sustainable mineral extraction in Nigeria’s growing solid minerals sector.

According to Onawo, the NMRS will be responsible for cracking down on illegal mining operations, rescuing trapped miners, responding to emergencies, investigating mining-related accidents, and ensuring compliance with national mining laws.

“The establishment of the Nigeria Mines Rangers Service will help safeguard mining operations, enforce mining environmental and safety regulations, and promote sustainable mining practices in Nigeria,” the lawmaker said.

During deliberations, senators described the agency as a necessary intervention to protect host communities and prevent further exploitation of the country’s mineral resources by unregulated operators.

The bill, reviewed by the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development chaired by Senator Ekong Samson (Akwa Ibom South), passed its third reading, advancing it to the next stage in the legislative process.

In his remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended the bill’s objective and urged future officers of the NMRS to act in the national interest.

“I pray those who will be working there will have patriotism in their mind and work to stop all illegal activities in our mines,” Akpabio said.

The passage of the bill comes amid growing concerns over illegal mining, which has been linked to environmental degradation, loss of government revenue, and rising insecurity in mineral-rich regions.