The Federal Authorities has revoked a complete of 1,263 mineral licences over non-payment of annual service charges, in a decisive transfer to sanitise Nigeria’s mining sector and entice severe traders.
The Minister of Strong Minerals Improvement, Dr. Dele Alake, accredited the revocation following suggestions from the Nigerian Mining Cadastre Workplace (MCO), in line with an announcement issued by his media aide, Segun Tomori, on Sunday in Abuja.
This follows an announcement made again in August by Alake that the federal government had plans to revoke greater than 1,000 dormant mining licences throughout Nigeria.
Licenses Revoked
Dr. Alake famous that the licences will probably be deleted from the Digital Mining Cadastre System (eMC+), thereby opening up beforehand held areas to new traders.
“The annual service price is the minimal proof that you’re enthusiastic about mining. You don’t have to attend for us to revoke the licence—the regulation permits you to return it in the event you’re not ,” Alake said.
The revoked licences embrace:
- 584 Exploration Licences (EL)
- 65 Mining Leases (ML)
- 144 Quarry Licences (QL)
- 470 Small-Scale Mining Licences (SSML)
Crackdown on Speculators
The minister emphasised that the revocation targets speculators who hoard licences with out operationalising them, thereby locking out dedicated and financially succesful traders.
“The period of acquiring licences and conserving them in drawers for the best bidder is over,” he warned.
In a stern follow-up, Alake revealed that the record of defaulters could be forwarded to the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC) for enforcement.
“Revocation doesn’t imply the debt is forgiven. The EFCC will make sure that defaulters both pay or face authorized penalties,” he added.
Director-Common of the MCO, Engr. Simon Nkom disclosed that 1,957 licence holders have been initially listed within the June 19, 2025, Federal Authorities Gazette for non-compliance.
They got a 30-day grace interval to settle excellent funds in accordance with the Minerals and Mining Act 2007.
In line with Tomori, a complete of three,794 mineral licences have been revoked for the reason that starting of President Bola Tinubu’s administration. This contains 619 licences revoked for non-payment and 912 for dormancy in 2024 alone.
The minister reaffirmed that the reforms goal to construct a mining ecosystem that creates jobs for Nigerians, helps native industries, and attracts overseas direct funding.
“We’re laying the muse for a brand new Nigeria the place mineral sources construct Nigerian prosperity,” Alake stated.
What it’s best to know
The Federal Authorities of Nigeria collected N6,957,826,200 in mining charges within the first quarter of 2025 and registered 118 new personal mineral shopping for facilities.
- The federal government additionally stated that the Mining Cadastral Workplace processed 955 purposes for mining titles, approving 867 (together with exploration, small-scale mining, quarry, and mining leases).
- Regardless of being Africa’s main vitality producer, Nigeria’s mining sector stays underdeveloped, contributing lower than 1% to GDP on account of low funding, unlawful actions, and neglect.
- The federal government additionally just lately introduced it’s establishing the Nigerian Strong Minerals Company to draw extra funding and permit public participation by way of share choices