The Federal Government has withdrawn 1,263 mineral licences, which will now be deleted from the Electronic Mining Cadastral System portal of the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office (MCO).
The revoked titles include 584 exploration licences, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licences, and 470 small-scale mining leases.
Segun Tomori, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, said the move will open up previously locked mining areas and attract fresh applications from serious investors.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, who approved the revocations based on MCO’s recommendation, said the measure is aimed at eliminating speculators and encouraging genuine investment in the mining sector.
“The era of hoarding licences for resale while capable entrepreneurs struggle to access viable sites is over.
“Payment of the annual service fee is the most basic proof of interest. Those who no longer wish to engage in mining are free to return their licences rather than hold them until they are revoked,” Alaka said.
He further clarified that the revocation does not absolve defaulters from outstanding service fees, warning that the list of debtors would be sent to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for recovery and possible prosecution.
Director-General of the MCO, Engr. Simon Nkom, disclosed that 1,957 initial defaulters were identified when the intention to revoke licences was published in the Federal Government Gazette on June 19, 2025.
He noted that several cases had to be reconciled due to payment claims before the final recommendation was made.
With this latest action, the Tinubu administration has now revoked a total of 3,794 mineral titles, including 619 titles withdrawn last year for defaulting on service fees and 912 for dormancy, as part of efforts to sanitise and revitalise the mining sector.
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