Move by the Senate  for establishment of  Mines Rangers for prevention and combating illegal mining activities in Nigeria  got a boost Tuesday with passage of its establishment bill for third reading.

The passage of the bill sponsored by Senator Mohammed Onaiwu for third reading was sequel to consideration and adoption of a report presented to the Senate by its committee on Solid Minerals Development.

The Committee in the report presented by Senator Sampson Ekong, posited that establishment of Mines Rangers for prevention and combating illegal mining and other related crimes  was necessary for revenue generation at both the state and federal levels and for proper diversification of the nation’s economy.

The report reads: “That many practitioners and stakeholders, particularly traditional rulers, supported the passage of the bill given its strategic relevance to the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to unlocking the full potential of the mining sector to contribute meaningfully to the Nigerian economy; 

“That the passage of the Bill will address current security lapses in the Nigerian mining sector, thereby creating employment opportunities as well as promoting the development of local communities and reducing the exploitation of locals by illegal miners. 

“That the support for the passage of the Bill is predicated on the fact that existing security agencies, military and paramilitary agencies are currently overwhelmed by other pressing internal security challenges such as insurgency, terrorism, kidnapping, oil theft, etc., hence the need for a specialized ranger service like the proposed NMRS for the mining sector.”