The Federal Government has revoked 1,263 mineral licenses 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 that the revocation affects various mineral titles.
The affected licenses include 584 exploration licenses, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licenses, and 470 small-scale mining leases.
The licenses 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.
According to the statement, the minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, approved the revocation based on recommendations from the MCO, stressing that enforcing the law is 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 you are interested in mining. You don’t have to wait for us to revoke the license because the law allows you to return the license if you change your mind.”
He warned that revocation does not absolve license holders from their financial obligations and revealed that the list of defaulters would be sent to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“This is to encourage due diligence and emphasise the consequences of inundating the license application processes with speculative activities,” he added.
Providing background to the decision, the 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. However, licensees were given a 30-day window to comply, per 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 licenses revoked under the current administration to 3,794. This includes 619 licenses revoked last year for fee defaults and 912 for dormancy.
The revocation is part of a broader effort by the Tinubu administration to clean up the mining sector, despite resistance from defaulters and their associates. Authorities say the reforms are already producing significant, positive results.
