The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Mining Marshals have recovered more than 100 mining sites and returned them to their legitimate owners, while the Federal Capital Territory Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service has enrolled 168 inmates in skills acquisition programmes.
The disclosures were made on Friday in Abuja during the 4th Nigerian Nation Builders Annual Conference and Awards 2026, where NSCDC Mining Marshals Commander, Commander John Attah Onoja, and FCT Controller of Corrections, Christopher Peter Jem, spoke on security, economic development and rehabilitation.
Key Highlights
- NSCDC Mining Marshals have recovered more than 100 mining sites, according to Commander John Attah Onoja.
- The sites were reportedly returned to their legitimate owners.
- The Mining Marshals have filed cases involving alleged illegal mining activities.
- The unit was inaugurated on March 21, 2024.
- FCT Correctional Service enrolled 168 inmates in 10 skills acquisition programmes.
- The programmes are designed to support inmates’ rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
- Defence Minister Christopher Musa called for stronger institutions and responsible citizenship.
- Musa also urged stakeholders to support measures against electoral violence ahead of the 2027 elections.
- NCAA Director-General Chris Najomo received a Nation Builder Award for his contributions to aviation regulation and development.
- Najomo highlighted Nigeria’s reported 91.3 per cent effective implementation score in the 2026 ICAO safety oversight assessment.
NSCDC Mining Marshals Recover Over 100 Mining Sites
Commander John Attah Onoja said the NSCDC Mining Marshals had recovered more than 100 mining sites and restored them to their legitimate owners.
According to Onoja, the unit has also taken legal action in several cases involving alleged illegal mining activities.
He said the Mining Marshals, inaugurated in March 2024, had strengthened enforcement in the mining sector while supporting the formalisation of legitimate mining operations.
Mining Marshals Focus on Illegal Mining Enforcement
Onoja said the Mining Marshals had adopted a security approach that treats security as an enabler of legitimate economic activities rather than focusing solely on enforcement.
He acknowledged that the unit had faced resistance from competing interests within the mining sector but said its operations remained guided by existing laws and government policies.
The NSCDC commander also called for greater value addition to Nigeria’s solid mineral resources, arguing that the country needs to move beyond the extraction and export of raw minerals.
NSCDC Seeks Greater Value Addition in Mining Sector
According to Onoja, government policies increasingly require mining investors to provide plans for processing and value addition.
He said developing mineral-processing clusters and plants across the country could enable Nigeria to derive greater economic benefits from its solid mineral resources.
The call comes amid continuing efforts by government agencies to strengthen regulation and formalise activities in Nigeria’s mining industry.
FCT Correctional Service Trains 168 Inmates
Also speaking at the conference, FCT Controller of Corrections Christopher Peter Jem disclosed that 168 inmates had been enrolled in 10 different skills acquisition programmes across correctional facilities under the FCT Command.
Jem said the initiative was designed to provide inmates with practical skills that could help them reintegrate into society after completing their sentences.
He stressed that rehabilitation should extend beyond the release of inmates, arguing that skills training could help former inmates become productive members of society.
Skills Acquisition Supports Inmate Rehabilitation
Jem said empowering inmates with practical skills could contribute to their reintegration and potentially reduce the risk of returning to crime.
He also expressed appreciation to the leadership of the Nigerian Correctional Service for supporting the initiative and commended the National Council for Civil Society Organisations (NACCSO) and the Vision-One Leadership Development Initiative (VOLDI) for their contributions to the programme.
Defence Minister Calls for Stronger Institutions
Earlier, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (retd.), called for stronger institutions, responsible citizenship and greater collaboration between government and civil society organisations.
Represented at the conference, Musa said nation-building required collective responsibility, effective leadership and quality service across different sectors.
He said government alone could not build the country, stressing the importance of contributions from communities, institutions, workplaces and families.
The minister also urged stakeholders to support efforts to prevent electoral violence ahead of the 2027 general elections and called for tolerance, responsible political participation and respect for the rule of law.
NCAA DG Najomo Receives Nation Builder Award
The Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Ona Najomo, was also honoured with a Nation Builder Award for his reported contributions to aviation safety regulation and industry development.
Represented at the event, Najomo stressed the importance of effective safety oversight and regulatory compliance to the sustainable growth of Nigeria’s aviation industry.
He also highlighted Nigeria’s 2026 International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Coordinated Validation Mission, which he said resulted in a 91.3 per cent effective implementation score in the assessment of the country’s aviation safety oversight system.
Nation Builders Conference Focuses on National Development
The 4th Nigerian Nation Builders Annual Conference and Awards 2026 was organised by the National Council for Civil Society Organisations in partnership with the Vision-One Leadership Development Initiative.
The conference was held at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Asokoro, Abuja, under the theme, “Promoting Excellence in Nation Building.”
The event brought together government officials, security agencies, regulatory bodies, civil society representatives, community leaders and other stakeholders to discuss leadership, civic responsibility, security, youth development and national development.
