The National Unity and Peace Corps, NUPEC says it has stepped up measures to protect mining sites nationwide ahead of the passage of the Bill establishing the agency.

Commandant General of the Corps, Dr. Chinedu Nneji assures of the Corps readiness as the Senate nears passage of the Nigerian Mines Ranger Service Bill.

According to Dr. Nneji the National Unity and Peace Corps (NUPEC) has commenced intensive training for its personnel nationwide.

The aim is to prepare them to protect mining sites, host communities, and boost government revenue ahead of the anticipated passage of the Nigerian Mines Ranger Service Bill.

Dr  Nneji was speaking to journalists after a special training session in Abuja.

The Commandant General also expressed optimism that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will assent to the bill once it passes through the National Assembly.

Dr. Nneji said that additionally, NUPEC personnel have been deployed to key mining sites in states ahead of the bill’s passage

The States include  like Kaduna, Kano, Enugu, Osun where they are actively discouraging illegal mining activities.

The NUPEC boss highlighted the challenges faced by unarmed operatives confronting heavily armed illegal miners.

He called on the National Assembly to include provisions in the bill that would allow trained personnel to bear arms for more effective service delivery.

“NUPEC has already commenced specialised combative training for its officers, and they are not only physically ready but intellectually equipped to handle arms and crisis situations responsibly,” he said.

Dr. Nneji equally assured that once the bill is signed into law, NUPEC will work closely with other security agencies through a Joint Task Force model to stamp out illegal mining and protect Nigeria’s mineral resources.

The NUPEC Commandant General who expressed strong belief that the Senate will pass the bill upon resumption in May stressed that the Corps has sufficient manpower to immediately kick-start field operations.