The Federal Government of Nigeria has revoked 1,263 mineral licenses due to non-payment of annual service fees. This decision affects various types of licenses, including 584 exploration licenses, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licenses, and 470 small-scale mining leases. The revocation was made after the licenses’ holders failed to meet the required annual service fees, prompting the government to take action.
According to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, the revocation is aimed at keeping speculators and unserious investors away from the mining sector, making way for diligent investors and growing the sector. The minister emphasized that the annual service fee is the minimum evidence of interest in mining and that licensees should return their licenses if they change their mind.
The Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office (MCO) had initially identified 1,957 defaulters when it published the intention to revoke licenses in the Federal Government Gazette on June 19, 2025. After a 30-day period for licensees to comply, the MCO forwarded the list of revoked licenses to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to ensure that debtors pay or face legal consequences.
The revocation is part of the government’s efforts to sanitize the mining sector, which has seen a total of 3,794 mineral titles revoked under the current administration. This includes 619 mineral titles revoked for defaulting in paying annual service fees and 912 for dormancy last year. The government believes that these reforms will have a positive impact on the sector, despite attempts by defaulters and their agents to resist the changes.
The revocation of these licenses is expected to open up new opportunities for investors and spur fresh applications. The government is committed to ensuring that the mining sector is operate in a transparent and responsible manner, and the revocation of these licenses is a step towards achieving this goal. The EFCC will work to ensure that debtors pay their outstanding fees, and the government will continue to monitor the sector to prevent speculative activities.
