The Federal Government has officially revoked 1,263 mineral licences due to non-payment of mandatory annual service fees, as part of a strategic effort to overhaul and purify Nigeria’s mining sector. This initiative aims to foster a more transparent and efficient industry, encouraging genuine investors to seize new opportunities.
In a statement released on Sunday in Abuja, Segun Tomori, the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, detailed that the cancellations cover a variety of mineral titles. Specifically, 584 exploration permits, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licences, and 470 small-scale mining permits have been annulled.
These licences will be expunged from the Electronic Mining Cadastral System (eMC+), which is overseen by the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office (MCO).
Tomori emphasized, “By reclaiming these previously licensed areas, the revocation process is designed to open the door for fresh applications from investors eager to develop untapped mineral resources.”
Dr. Dele Alake, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, authorized the cancellations following recommendations from the MCO. He underscored the importance of rigorous enforcement to discourage speculative holding of licences and to attract serious, committed players in the mining industry.
“The trend of acquiring licences merely to hold them inactive for resale at inflated prices, while legitimate entrepreneurs face barriers to accessing productive sites, must be eradicated,” Dr. Alake stated firmly.
He added, “Paying the annual service fee is a fundamental demonstration of one’s dedication to mining operations. Licence holders are not required to wait for revocation; the law allows for voluntary surrender if they choose not to proceed.”
Furthermore, Dr. Alake warned that revocation does not absolve licence holders from settling any outstanding fees. He disclosed that defaulters‘ names will be submitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further scrutiny.
“This step is intended to enforce accountability and deter the abuse of the licence application system through speculative claims,” he explained.
Providing additional background, Engr. Simon Nkom, Director-General of the MCO, revealed that an initial list of 1,957 licence holders was identified for revocation following the Federal Government Gazette’s announcement on June 19, 2025.
Licence holders were given a 30-day window to comply, in line with the Minerals and Mining Act of 2007.
He also noted that the delay in finalizing the revocations was due to the need to verify payment records submitted by some licence holders via the REMITA platform.
This latest round of cancellations brings the total number of revoked licences under the current administration to 3,794. This includes 619 licences revoked last year for non-payment and 912 for inactivity.
These actions are part of President Bola Tinubu’s comprehensive plan to reform the mining sector, despite resistance from some defaulters and their supporters. Officials report that these reforms are already generating significant and positive impacts across the industry.
