In a decisive move, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, has revoked a total of 1,633 mineral titles previously granted to non-compliant mining companies.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, during a press briefing held on Tuesday in Abuja.
The revocation of these mineral titles stems from the failure of the respective holders to fulfill the mandatory annual service fees requirement, set at N1,500 per cadastral unit.
Minister Alake highlighted the breakdown of the revoked licenses, revealing that Exploration Licenses accounted for 536, Quarry Licenses for 279, Small Scale Mining Licenses for 787, and Mining Leases for 31.
During the press briefing, Minister Alake referenced the authority vested in him by the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act (NMMA) of 2007, Section 5 (a), as the basis for approving the revocation of the 1,633 titles.
This swift action seems to underscore the government’s commitment to enforcing compliance within the mining sector and ensuring adherence to the regulatory framework set forth by the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development.