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The Federal Government has revoked 1,263 mining licenses over unpaid service fees.
The government also vowed to forward the list of defaulters to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to ensure payment of the fees.
The Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Segun Tomori, announced the developments in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
He said the licences would be deleted from the electronic mining cadastral system portal managed by the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office (MCO).
The special assistant said the cancelled licences comprises 584 exploration licences, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licences, and 470 small-scale mining leases.
He said the move is aimed at opening up the areas to fresh applications from investors seeking new opportunities in the mining sector.
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“The latest revocation brings the total mineral titles revoked under the current administration to 3,794 including, 619 mineral titles revoked for defaulting in paying annual service fees and 912 for dormancy last year,” Tomori said.
“This is part of ongoing efforts at sanitizing the sector since the inception of the Tinubu administration and the salutary effects of the reforms are massive and manifest despite the attempts to push back by defaulters and their agents.”
According to the statement, the approval for the revocations followed recommendations from the MCO.
Speaking on the development, Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, said applying the law to keep speculators and unserious investors away from the mining sector would 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,” the minister was quoted as saying.
“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 license because the law allows you to return the license if you change your mind,” Alake stated.
By: Babajide Okeowo
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