By Omodele Adigun
The Federal Government has revoked no fewer than 1,263 mineral licenses over failure of license holders to pay mandatory annual service fees, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, announced on Sunday.
The revoked titles include 584 exploration licenses, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licenses, and 470 small-scale mining leases.
Approving the measure following a recommendation by the Mining Cadastral Office (MCO), Alake said the decision was necessary to rid the sector of speculators and unserious investors while opening up fresh opportunities for diligent players.
According to him, in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday in Abuja by his Media Aide, Segun Tomori, stated that: “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 declared. “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 it if you change your mind.”
Alake stressed that the revocation does not absolve defaulters of their debts, warning that the list of offenders would be forwarded to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for recovery. “This is to encourage due diligence and emphasise the consequences of inundating the license application processes with speculative activities,” he added.
Director-General of the MCO, Engr. Simon Nkom revealed that 1,957 titles were initially flagged for revocation when the agency published a notice in the Federal Government Gazette on June 19, 2025. He explained that the delay in final approval was due to the reconciliation of payments made through Remita after several licensees lodged complaints.
The latest action brings the total mineral titles revoked under the Tinubu administration to 3,794, including 619 licenses revoked for non-payment of service fees and 912 for dormancy last year.
According to Alake, the move is part of ongoing reforms to sanitise the mining sector, with “massive and manifest” positive impacts already being recorded despite resistance from defaulters and their agents.
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