The Nigerian Senate has passed the Nigeria Mines Rangers Service Establishment Bill, 2025, a landmark legislation aimed at combating illegal mining and improving enforcement within the solid minerals sector.
The bill was presented by Senator Ekong Samson, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development, and passed its third reading following a review by the committee of the whole.
Once established, the Mines Rangers Service will function as a specialised enforcement agency responsible for securing mining sites, monitoring activities, and ensuring compliance with existing laws under the Nigerian Mining Act.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended the bill, describing it as a “timely intervention” that will strengthen Nigeria’s regulatory framework and ensure the country benefits fully from its mineral wealth.
“This legislation will not only protect our mineral resources from illegal exploitation but also give confidence to investors that Nigeria is serious about protecting lawful operations in the mining sector,” he said.
Supporting the bill, Senator Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South) stressed that the presence of the Mines Rangers at active mining sites would serve as a deterrent against unauthorized activities and promote transparency in resource extraction.
“They will be the eyes on the ground. With growing foreign investment in mining, Nigeria must secure those investments and ensure proper regulation, ” he said.
The creation of the Mines Rangers Service comes amid concerns over the rising scale of illegal mining, which has cost the country billions in lost revenue and has been linked to insecurity in mineral-rich regions.
The passage of this bill is expected to pave the way for more organised, accountable, and protected mining activities, particularly as Nigeria positions itself to diversify its economy through the solid minerals sector.
The bill will now be transmitted to the House of Representatives for concurrence before heading to the President for assent.
