The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has approved the revocation of 1,263 mineral licences over default in payment of annual fees.

Mr Alake gave the approval in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, on Sunday in Abuja.

He stated the approval, recommended by the Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office (MCO), included 584 exploration licences, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licences, and 470 small-scale mining leases.

Mr Alake said the move was part of ongoing efforts by President Bola Tinubu’s administration aimed at sanitising the mining sector.

The minister said that by the action, the licences would be deleted from the portal of the Electronic Mining Cadastral system of the MCO, which would create more opportunities for investors.

“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,” the minister said.

Mr Alake said that by opening up the areas formerly covered by these licenses, the move was expected to spur fresh applications from investors seeking new opportunities.

According to him, applying the law to keep speculators and unserious investors away from the mining sector will make way for diligent investors and grow the sector.

“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,” he said.

Mr Alake warned that the revocation did not imply that the payment of the annual fees had been pardoned.

The minister stated that the list would be forwarded to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to ensure that debtors pay or face the wrath of the law.

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

The director-general of the MCO, Simon Nkom, in his presentation to the minister, stated that there were 1,957 initial defaulters when the office published to revoke licences in the federal government gazette on June 19, 2025.

He stated that the gazette was distributed to MCO offices nationwide to sensitise those affected and encourage them to comply within 30 days, in line with the Minerals and Mining Act 2007 and relevant regulations.

Mr Tomori said that 3,794 licences have been revoked since the inception of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, including 619 mineral titles revoked for defaulting on annual service fees and 912 for dormancy last year.

(NAN)