The Federal Government has revoked 1,263 mineral licenses across Nigeria due to the failure of license holders to pay annual service fees. The affected titles include 584 exploration licenses, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licenses, and 470 small-scale mining leases.
According to a report by Mediaplusng.com, the revocation was approved following the recommendation of the Mining Cadastral Office (MCO). Authorities say the move will free up new opportunities for investors who are ready to operate responsibly in the solid minerals sector.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, explained that enforcing the law will keep speculators and unserious investors out of the system. He stressed that payment of the annual service fee is the basic proof of genuine interest in mining.
> “The era of hoarding licenses for the highest bidder is over. If you are no longer interested in mining, the law allows you to return the license instead of holding it down,” he said.
Mediaplusng.com also reports that the minister clarified the revocation does not cancel the debts owed by defaulting licensees. Instead, the list will be forwarded to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to recover outstanding fees or prosecute offenders.
The Director-General of the MCO, Engr. Simon Nkom, revealed that there were initially 1,957 defaulters when the intention to revoke was published in the Federal Government Gazette on June 19, 2025. He noted that delays in the final action were caused by reconciliation of payments made through government platforms.
With the latest action, the Tinubu administration has revoked a total of 3,794 mineral titles since 2023. This includes 619 licenses revoked for non-payment of service fees and 912 for dormancy last year. Officials say the clean-up is part of ongoing reforms to sanitize the mining sector and attract serious investors.
