The Federal Government of Nigeria has taken decisive action by revoking the mineral titles of 1,633 non-compliant mining companies. This announcement was made by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, during a press briefing held in Abuja on Tuesday.
The revocation stems from the failure of these mining companies to fulfill the obligation of paying mandatory annual service fees amounting to N1,500 per cadastral unit. Minister Dele Alake emphasized the importance of adherence to regulatory requirements in the mining sector.
During the press briefing, he disclosed, “The Mining Cadastre Office has recommended the revocation of 1,633 mineral titles, categorically distributed as follows: Exploration Licence – 536, Quarry Licence – 279, Small Scale Mining Licence – 787, and Mining Lease – 31.”
Following the authority vested in him by the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act (NMMA) of 2007, Section 5 (a), Minister Dele Alake affirmed, “I have approved the revocation of the 1,633 titles.”
This decisive move by the government underscores its commitment to upholding regulatory compliance within the mining sector, ensuring that companies meet their financial obligations to support sustainable and responsible resource extraction practices.