The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has approved the cancellation of 1,263 mineral licenses due to non-payment of annual fees.
The approval was announced in a statement released yesterday in Abuja by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori.
According to the statement, the revoked licenses based on a recommendation from the Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office (MCO) include 584 exploration licenses, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licenses, and 470 small-scale mining leases.
Dr. Alake explained that the decision is part of the Tinubu administration’s broader efforts to clean up and reform the mining sector.
He added that the revoked licenses will be removed from the MCO’s Electronic Mining Cadastre System, opening up space for new investors to come in.
Dr. Alake explained that by freeing up the areas previously tied to the revoked licenses, the government hopes to attract new investors actively seeking fresh opportunities in the sector. He emphasized that strictly enforcing the law will help keep speculators and unserious players out, paving the way for committed and capable investors to thrive.
“We’re putting an end to the practice of hoarding licenses and waiting for the highest bidder, while serious and financially ready entrepreneurs struggle to access viable mining sites,” he said.
The minister also clarified that the revocation doesn’t erase the outstanding annual fees. He warned that the list of defaulters will be sent to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to ensure those owing settle their debts—or face legal consequences.
Tomori noted that during his briefing to the minister, the Director-General of the Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office (MCO), Simon Nkom, revealed that a total of 1,957 defaulters were initially identified when plans to revoke their licenses were first published in the Federal Government Gazette on June 19, 2025.
He explained that the gazette was shared across all MCO offices nationwide to notify those affected and give them a 30-day window to comply, in line with the Minerals and Mining Act of 2007 and other relevant regulations.
According to Tomori, since President Bola Tinubu’s administration began, a total of 3,794 mining licenses have been revoked 619 of them last year for failure to pay annual service fees, and 912 for inactivity.
Back in August, Alake announced plans to revoke over 1,000 licenses as part of efforts to transform the solid minerals sector into a key engine for national industrial growth and regional leadership.
He explained that the Tinubu administration is focused on building a future where Nigeria’s mineral resources are used to create local jobs, support homegrown industries, and drive economic prosperity for Nigerians.
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