The Federal Government has revoked a total of 1,263 mineral licences due to the failure of license holders to pay their annual service fees, the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development announced.
According to a statement by Segun Tomori, media aide to the Minister, Dele Alake, the affected licences include:
- 584 Exploration Licences
- 65 Mining Leases
- 144 Quarry Licences
- 470 Small-Scale Mining Leases
The revoked licences will be removed from the Electronic Mining Cadastral System (eMC+) portal, opening up the areas for new investors.
Alake said the move is aimed at eliminating speculators and ensuring that only serious, financially capable operators are in the mining sector.
“The era of keeping licences in drawers for the highest bidder is over,” Alake said.
“The annual service fee is the bare minimum proof of interest. If you’re no longer interested, return the licence—don’t wait for revocation.”
He added that revocation does not erase the debt owed in service fees by defaulting licensees
