The Federal Government has revoked 1,263 mining licences to enforce compliance, warning defaulters will be pursued by the EFCC.
The Federal Government has revoked 1,263 mineral exploration and mining licences, deleting them from the portal of the Electronic Mining Cadastral System.
The cancellations include 584 exploration licences, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licences, and 470 small-scale mining leases. Authorities say the move is aimed at clearing speculators and creating space for diligent investors in the sector.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, said the revocation would “make way for diligent investors and grow the sector,” stressing that defaulting licence holders still owe annual service fees. He added that the list of defaulters would be forwarded to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to recover debts or prosecute offenders.
Director-General of the Mining Cadastral Office, Simon Nkom, said 1,957 operators were initially flagged in a gazette notice published on June 19.
With the latest action, a total of 3,794 mineral titles have been withdrawn under the current administration.