Mining Marshals commander advocates ‘strategic resource nationalism’ for Nigeria - The Guardian Nigeria News

Mining Marshals Commander Attah John Onoja has called for strategic resource nationalism to turn Nigeria's mineral wealth into industrial and economic growth.

Mining Marshals Commander Attah John Onoja has called for strategic resource nationalism to turn Nigeria's mineral wealth into industrial and economic growth.

The Commander of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Mining Marshals, Assistant Commandant of Corps Attah John Onoja, has called for what he described as “strategic resource nationalism” in the management of Nigeria’s solid minerals, arguing that the country’s mineral resources should play a greater role in industrialisation and economic diversification.

Onoja made the call while delivering a keynote presentation at the fourth Nigerian Nation Builders Annual Conference in Abuja.

The conference had the theme, “Effective Harnessing and Utilisation of Solid Minerals as Panacea for Nation Building in Nigeria.”

Speaking to participants from government institutions, the private sector, academia and civil society, Onoja argued that Nigeria needed to move beyond extracting and exporting mineral resources towards using them to support domestic industry, technology development and economic growth.

Nigeria has more than 44 commercially viable minerals spread across over 500 locations, according to government and industry estimates.

Despite the country’s mineral endowment, however, the solid minerals sector contributes less than one per cent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product.

Recent figures from the Solid Minerals Development Fund showed that solid mineral exports were valued at about N354 billion in 2025, accounting for approximately 0.4 per cent of the country’s total exports and three per cent of non-oil exports.

Onoja said the country’s dependence on crude oil had prevented it from fully exploiting opportunities available in the mining sector.

He identified illegal mining, weak regulation and insufficient value addition among the problems that had historically constrained the sector.

Onoja told the conference that Nigeria needed an approach that placed the country’s economic and strategic interests at the centre of mineral-resource management.

He described the proposed approach as “strategic resource nationalism”.

Under such a model, he argued, minerals would be treated not simply as commodities for export but as resources capable of supporting manufacturing, technological development, employment and wider economic activity.

Onoja cited the development experiences of countries including China, India and Japan in making his case for stronger national consideration in the management of strategic resources.

He also argued that Nigeria’s geographical distribution of mineral resources created opportunities for economic activity across different parts of the federation.

If properly developed, he said, mining could generate employment, stimulate industrial development and increase revenues available to governments.

The Mining Marshals commander also called for greater domestic value addition, an issue the Federal Government has increasingly incorporated into its solid minerals policy.

Government reforms in the sector have included efforts to formalise artisanal mining, improve geological data, combat illegal operations, promote local processing and attract private investment.

Onoja also described illegal mining as a threat to Nigeria’s economy and national security.

He argued that unlawful extraction deprives governments of revenue while creating opportunities for criminal activity around mining communities.

Concerns about the relationship between illegal mining, organised crime and insecurity have increasingly featured in government discussions about the sector, although the nature and extent of those connections vary considerably between locations and require case-specific evidence.

Onoja said the Mining Marshals had intensified enforcement operations since the specialised unit was established in 2024.

He told the conference that the unit had made approximately 700 arrests connected with suspected illegal mining activities and restored more than 100 mining sites to legitimate title holders.

Recent figures previously released by the NSCDC provide context for those claims.

In July, the Mining Marshals reported that 671 suspected illegal miners had been arrested nationwide, with 397 charged before the Federal High Court and several convictions secured.

By September, Onoja said the unit had arrested more than 600 suspects, commenced prosecution of more than 500 and recovered over 100 mining sites.

The figures reflect different reporting periods and descriptions of enforcement outcomes, making direct comparisons difficult.

The Mining Marshals have also continued operations against suspected illegal mining sites.

In September, the unit announced the arrest of two suspects during an operation at an alleged illegal gold mining site in Gwagwalada, Federal Capital Territory.

Onoja said the specialised unit was intended not only to conduct enforcement operations but also to protect legitimate mineral-title holders and support security within mining communities.

The commander also highlighted efforts to formalise artisanal mining and improve the participation of communities in areas where extraction takes place.

He said stronger community development arrangements were necessary to ensure that areas hosting mining activities received tangible benefits from the exploitation of mineral resources.

Nigeria’s wider mining reform programme has included measures intended to improve regulation, encourage local processing and value addition, strengthen geological information and bring more artisanal miners into formal structures.

Onoja argued that enforcement alone would not be sufficient to transform the sector.

He called for cooperation involving government agencies, traditional institutions, communities, lawmakers and the judiciary to protect mineral assets and create an environment in which legitimate mining operations could develop.

The conference also featured remarks about the work of the Mining Marshals.

Rear Admiral Olusanya Bankole (rtd.), who represented the chairman of the occasion, commended Onoja’s leadership of the unit and its campaign against illegal mining.

The submitted conference account identified the chairman of the occasion as the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa.

Bankole attributed progress in combating illegal mining and protecting legitimate operators to the activities of the specialised NSCDC unit.

Onoja, however, said more work remained to ensure that Nigeria’s mineral endowment translated into measurable economic benefits.

He argued that mineral development should ultimately be assessed by its contribution to employment, industrial activity, government revenue and improvements in the lives of communities where extraction occurs.

Nigeria’s solid minerals sector recorded strong growth in 2025, according to government figures, while remaining a relatively small component of the wider economy.

For Onoja, closing that gap will require not only attracting investment and strengthening enforcement, but deciding how the country’s mineral resources fit into a broader national industrial strategy.

He urged stakeholders to ensure that the wealth beneath Nigeria’s soil ultimately translated into economic opportunities for its citizens.