The Federal Government has revoked a total of 1,263 mineral licences across Nigeria, in what officials describe as a decisive move to sanitise the country’s solid minerals sector, enforce compliance, and attract genuine investors.
The announcement, made in Abuja by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, highlights the Tinubu administration’s determination to restore transparency and accountability in the mining industry.
According to the minister, the revoked titles comprise 584 exploration licences, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licences, and 470 small-scale mining leases.
The affected licences will now be deleted from the Electronic Mining Cadastral System portal of the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office (MCO).
Mineral Licences Revocation and the Push for Compliance
Dr. Alake explained that the mineral licences revocation exercise followed recommendations by the MCO after companies failed to meet their statutory obligations, particularly the annual service fee.
He emphasised that such fees serve as a baseline measure of seriousness for operators in the sector.
“The era of obtaining licences and keeping them idle for speculative purposes is over.
Those who are truly interested and financially capable should have access to sites.
The service fee is the minimum demonstration of commitment,” Alake said.
He further clarified that the revocation does not extinguish debts owed by the defaulters.
Instead, a list of defaulting operators will be forwarded to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for recovery and possible prosecution.
The mineral licences revocation is part of broader reforms aimed at eliminating speculators who clog the system while deterring serious investors.
Alake maintained that freeing up dormant licences will create room for credible applications and new investments.
Since President Bola Tinubu assumed office, the administration has revoked 3,794 mineral titles, including 619 licences withdrawn in 2024 for non-payment of fees and another 912 licences revoked for dormancy.
According to Alake, the reforms are already beginning to yield results despite resistance from entrenched interests.
“By cleaning up the system, we are creating a level playing field and making the sector attractive to global investors,” he said.
The Director-General of the MCO, Simon Nkom, provided more details about the process leading to the revocation.
He revealed that an initial 1,957 operators were listed as defaulters when the government published its intention to revoke titles in the Federal Government Gazette on June 19, 2025.
The publication gave licence holders a 30-day compliance window, in line with provisions of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2007.
During this period, the MCO reconciled payments and verified evidence of compliance, especially from companies that claimed to have paid through the Treasury Single Account (TSA).
“Only those who failed to provide verifiable evidence of payment were recommended for revocation.
This process was transparent and followed due process,” Nkom explained.
He stressed that clearing out inactive and speculative licences is critical to restoring confidence in the sector.
“Expired and dormant licences distort the system, preventing serious investors from accessing viable sites. This exercise ensures the law is enforced and the sector thrives,” Nkom added.
Officials insist that the mineral licences revocation is not punitive but a corrective measure to strengthen the mining sector.
The Federal Government has identified solid minerals as a key pillar of Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda, especially as the country seeks to reduce dependence on crude oil revenues.
With over 40 commercially viable minerals spread across the country, the sector holds vast potential for job creation, industrialisation, and revenue generation.
However, years of lax enforcement, speculative hoarding of licences, and weak compliance have hindered growth.
The government’s latest move signals a stronger resolve to change this narrative.
By opening up access to serious investors and strengthening enforcement, stakeholders believe the mining sector could become a major driver of Nigeria’s long-term economic growth.
Industry experts have welcomed the mineral licences revocation exercise, noting that it will create room for credible operators while deterring speculative practices.
However, they caution that government must ensure that the reallocation of licences is transparent, competitive, and investor-friendly.
For now, the message from the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development is clear: the days of dormant licences and speculative hoarding are over.
As Dr. Alake put it, “Nigeria’s mining sector is open to serious business. Those who cannot meet their obligations should step aside.”
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