The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has revoked 1,263 mineral licenses in a bid to sanitize the solid minerals sector and enforce compliance with extant laws.
This was made known on Sunday by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori.
The statement disclosed that the revoked titles consist of 584 exploration licenses, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licenses, and 470 small-scale mining leases, adding that the licenses would be deleted from the Electronic Mining Cadastral System portal of the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office.
According to the statement, “The era of obtaining licenses and keeping them in drawers for speculative purposes is over. Financially capable and industrious businessmen who are ready to work should have access to sites. The annual service fee is the minimum evidence of seriousness in mining. Those who are no longer interested in mining are free to return their licenses rather than hold them idle.
“This exercise is critical to restoring confidence in the solid minerals sector. By clearing out dormant and speculative titles, we are creating opportunities for credible investors and ensuring that the law is fully enforced.”
The minister further noted that the list of defaulters would be forwarded to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for debt recovery and possible prosecution in order to encourage due diligence.
