The National Unity and Peace Corps (NUPEC) has announced that it is intensifying preparations to secure mining sites nationwide in anticipation of the passage of the Bill establishing the agency.
Commandant General of the Corps, Dr. Chinedu Nneji, assured that the corps is fully prepared as the Senate nears the passage of the Nigerian Mines Ranger Service Bill.
Dr. Nneji stated that NUPEC has begun rigorous training for its personnel across the country to ensure they are equipped to secure mining sites, protect host communities, and enhance government revenue ahead of the expected passage of the Nigerian Mines Ranger Service Bill.
In an interview with journalists following a special training session in Abuja, Dr. Nneji expressed confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will give his assent to the bill once it clears the National Assembly.
He revealed that, even before the bill’s passage, NUPEC personnel have been deployed to key mining sites in states such as Kaduna, Kano, Enugu, and Osun, where they are actively working to combat illegal mining.
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Addressing the challenges faced by unarmed operatives confronting heavily armed illegal miners, the NUPEC leader urged the National Assembly to include provisions in the bill allowing trained personnel to bear arms to improve service delivery.
“NUPEC has already begun specialised combative training for its officers, ensuring they are not only physically prepared but also intellectually equipped to handle arms and crisis situations responsibly,” he remarked.
Dr. Nneji assured that once the bill is signed into law, NUPEC will collaborate with other security agencies under a Joint Task Force model to eradicate illegal mining and safeguard Nigeria’s mineral resources.
The NUPEC Commandant General expressed strong confidence that the Senate will pass the bill upon its resumption in May and reiterated that the Corps has the manpower to begin field operations immediately.
