Again, Federal Government Revokes 1,263 Mineral Licences Over Unpaid Fees

The Federal Government has revoked 1,263 mineral licences due to non-payment of annual service fees, as part of efforts to reform and sanitise Nigeria’s mining sector.

In a statement released Sunday in Abuja, Segun Tomori, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, confirmed the revocation, which affected various categories of mineral titles. The affected licences include 584 exploration licences, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licences, and 470 small-scale mining leases.

The licences will now be deleted from the Electronic Mining Cadastral System (eMC+) operated by the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office (MCO).

“By opening up the areas formerly covered by these licenses, the revocation is expected to spur fresh applications by investors looking for fresh opportunities,” Tomori stated.

Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, approved the revocation based on recommendations from the MCO. He emphasised that enforcing the law was essential to discourage speculators and attract serious investors.

“The era of obtaining licences and keeping them in drawers for the highest bidder while financially capable and industrious businessmen are complaining of access to good sites is over,” Dr. Alake said.

“The annual service fee is the minimum evidence that you are interested in mining. You don’t have to wait for us to revoke the licence because the law allows you to return the licence if you change your mind,” he added.

He warned that revocation does not absolve licence holders from their financial obligations, revealing that the list of defaulters would be sent to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further action.

“This is to encourage due diligence and emphasise the consequences of inundating the licence application processes with speculative activities,” he added.

Providing background to the decision, Director-General of the MCO, Engr. Simon Nkom, said that 1,957 licensees were initially listed for revocation when the intention was published in the Federal Government Gazette on June 19, 2025.

Licensees were given a 30-day window to comply, in line with the Minerals and Mining Act, 2007.

He also noted that delays in the final decision stemmed from the need to verify claims by some licensees who said they had made payments via the REMITA platform.

This latest action brings the total number of licenCes revoked under the current administration to 3,794. This includes 619 licences revoked last year for fee defaults and 912 for dormancy.

The revocation was part of a broader effort by the President Bola Tinubu administration to clean up the mining sector despite resistance from defaulters and their associates. Authorities say the reforms were already producing significant, positive results.