The Senate has passed for a second reading, a bill to establish the Nigeria Mines Rangers Service (NMRS) to combat illegal and artisanal mining in Nigeria.

This followed the presentation of the general principles of the bill by the sponsor, Mohammed Onawo (SDP-Nasarawa), at the plenary on Thursday.

Mr Onawo said the proposed NMRS, when established, would safeguard mining operations and enforce mining environmental and safety regulations.

According to him, the proposed Mine Rangers Service, as a specialised security outfit, would, among others, curb illegal mining, rescue trapped miners, provide emergency medical care, investigate mining accidents and enforce compliance with mining regulations.

“The bill has been painstakingly developed and streamlined to curb illegal mining, thereby providing avenues for harnessing the vast mineral resources in Nigeria.

“The bill is a bold legislative step geared towards the diversification of our economy by de-emphasising monolithic focus on oil as the main source of the country‘s revenue,“ he said.

Lawmakers who contributed to the debate for the bill described the proposed Mine Rangers Service as a veritable outfit to protect and secure the mining sites.

Orji Uzor Kalu (APC-Abia) said the proposed security outfit would help stop the yearly loss of $18.9 billion to illegal mining.

” The Mine Rangers Service, as envisioned, will not only curb illegal mining but also combat banditry,” he said.

Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin (APC-Kano), who presided over the plenary, described the bill as apt, given the needed protection, regulations and enforcement in the mining sector.

”It will also help to combat banditry because one of the recently killed notorious bandits was just a security guard to miners, later turned to miner himself and added banditry to it. He had a lot of mining sites where he carried out illegal mining.

“The proposed law for special security outfits for the mining sector is very apt because it will also help identify criminals,“ Mr Barau said.

Mr Barau referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals for further legislative input and mandated that it be reported back to the plenary in two weeks.

(NAN)