Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has cancelled 1,263 mineral licenses after operators failed to meet the legal requirement of paying annual service fees.
The decision followed recommendations from the Mining Cadastral Office (MCO) and was announced in Abuja on Sunday, September 21.
The affected titles included 584 exploration licenses, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licenses, and 470 small-scale mining leases.
Alake explained that the action is part of wider efforts to clean up the mining sector by removing speculators and unserious investors.
“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.
He added that the government expects genuine investors to demonstrate commitment by paying the fees, noting that the annual service fee is the minimum evidence of interest in mining.
Alake emphasized that defaulters still bear responsibility, warning that their names will be sent to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for recovery of debts.
The revocation was based on the Mining Cadastral Office’s recommendation after publishing a notice of intention to revoke in the Federal Government Gazette on June 19, 2025.
The process initially identified 1,957 defaulters, but some delays occurred due to complaints about payment reconciliation through Remita.
The total number of mineral titles revoked under the current administration has now reached 3,794, including previous revocations for non-payment and dormancy.
This move aims to foster growth in the sector by eliminating speculative practices and attracting credible investors committed to developing the solid minerals industry in Nigeria.
