The federal government has announced fresh revocation of 1,263 mineral licenses over non-payment of annual service fees.
This follows the recommendation of Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office, MCO.
In a statement issued by his special assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, on Sunday in Abuja, the minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, disclosed that the revoked licenses will now be deleted from the Electronic Mining Cadastral System portal of the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office.
The latest revocation brings the total mineral titles revoked under the current administration to 3, 794.
While 619 mineral titles were revoked for defaulting in paying annual service fees, 912 was revoked for dormancy last year.
“Not less than 1,263 mineral licenses will be deleted from the portal of the Electronic Mining Cadastral system of the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office, MCO, following their revocation by the Federal Government.
“These include 584 exploration licenses, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licenses, and 470 small-scale mining leases.”
The Minister 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.
“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 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 the license if you change your mind,” the minister said.
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.
“This is to encourage due diligence and emphasise the consequences of inundating the license application processes with speculative activities.”
