The Senate has passed the Nigeria Mines Rangers Service Establishment Bill, 2025, marking a significant step toward curbing illegal mining and enhancing regulatory oversight in the nation’s solid minerals sector.
The bill’s passage followed the presentation of a report by Senator Ekong Samson, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development.
The proposed Mines Rangers Service will function as a specialised enforcement agency, responsible for safeguarding mining sites and ensuring strict compliance with Nigeria’s mining laws and regulations.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the bill as a “timely intervention” that will bolster the country’s regulatory framework and improve the management of its mineral resources.
“This is a timely intervention that will strengthen our regulatory framework and ensure that Nigeria’s mineral resources are properly managed,” Akpabio stated.
Backing the bill, several lawmakers—including Senator Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South)—emphasised the vital role the Mines Rangers would play in securing mining operations nationwide.
“If established, the Rangers Service will be physically present at mining sites across the country. They will serve as the eyes on the ground to monitor the extraction of our national resources,” Maidoki noted.
He added that with the increasing presence of major mining investors in Nigeria, it is imperative to protect investments and ensure the nation derives full benefits from its mineral wealth.
Following deliberations in the Committee of the Whole, the bill successfully scaled its third reading, moving it one step closer to becoming law.
