The Federal Government has revoled 1,263 mineral exploring licenses as authorities delete them from the portal of the Electronic Mining Cadastral system.
The revocation include 584 exploration licenses, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licenses, and 470 small-scale mining leases.
The revocation is expected to spur fresh applications by investors seeking fresh opportunities.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake 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.
He warned that the revocation does not mean the Federal Government has pardoned the annual service debt owed by licensees, adding that the list will be forwarded to the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission to ensure that debtors pay or face the wrath of the law.
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In the recommendation to the minister, the Director-General of the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office (MCO), Simon Nkom disclosed that there were 1,957 initial defaulters when the MCO published the intention to revoke licences in the Federal Government Gazette on June 19, 2025.
The latest revocation brings the total mineral titles withdrawn under the current administration to 3,794 including 619 mineral titles revoked for defaulters of annual service fees and 912 for dormancy in the year 2024.
(Editor: Anoyoyo Ogiagboviogie)
