Nigeria’s Senate has passed a landmark bill establishing the Mines Rangers Service, a specialized enforcement unit tasked with safeguarding mining sites and curbing illegal extraction activities that have cost the nation trillions in lost revenue and environmental degradation.

The Nigeria Mines Rangers Service Establishment Bill 2025 was approved Tuesday following the presentation of a report by Senator Ekong Samson, chairman of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development. The new agency will serve as an on-site regulatory force, monitoring operations and deterring unauthorized digs that fuel smuggling and spark community unrest.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the move as a “timely intervention” to reinforce the Mining Act and ensure Nigeria’s mineral wealth is properly managed. “This will strengthen our framework and ensure Nigeria’s mineral resources are properly managed,” he said, noting the sector’s strategic shift away from oil dependency.

Senator Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South) emphasized the rangers’ operational presence at mining sites, calling them “eyes on the ground” to protect national assets. With foreign interest surging in Nigeria’s lithium and gold reserves, Maidoki highlighted the need to secure investments estimated at $800 million annually under recent reforms.

The bill, debated in the committee of the whole, passed its third reading unanimously and now proceeds to the House of Representatives for concurrence before heading to the president for assent.

Experts estimate illegal mining has cost Nigeria over ₦10 trillion since 2015, ravaging forests and destabilizing communities. The Mines Rangers Service is expected to serve as a critical line of defense in harnessing the country’s untapped mineral potential while promoting lawful and sustainable extraction.