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FG revokes 1,263 mineral licences spanning exploration, mining, quarry and small-scale leases for failure to pay annual service fees.
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Solid Minerals Minister Dele Alake says the revocation targets speculators, opens sites to serious investors, and boosts mining sector growth.
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Mining Cadastral Office (MCO) confirms affected titles will be deleted from the electronic portal, with defaulters still liable to pay debts.
The Federal Government has revoked 1,263 mineral licences for defaulting in the payment of mandatory annual service fees, a move aimed at sanitising the mining sector and freeing up viable sites for new investors.
The licences, which will be removed from the Electronic Mining Cadastral System of the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office (MCO), comprise 584 exploration licences, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licences and 470 small-scale mining leases.
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Approving the action, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, said strict enforcement of the law was necessary to discourage speculative licence hoarding and promote genuine investment in the sector.
According to him, the era of acquiring mining licences only to keep them idle for resale is over, stressing that payment of annual service fees is the minimum proof of commitment to mining operations.
Alake warned that the revocation does not absolve defaulters of their financial obligations, adding that details of indebted licence holders would be forwarded to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to ensure recovery of outstanding fees.
He said the decision was intended to promote due diligence and deter speculative practices that clog the licence application process and deny serious investors access to productive mining sites.
In its recommendation to the minister, the Director-General of the MCO, Engr. Simon Nkom, disclosed that 1,957 licence holders were initially listed as defaulters when the intention to revoke was published in the Federal Government Gazette on June 19, 2025.
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Nkom explained that the notice was circulated nationwide to allow affected licencees a 30-day window to regularise their status in line with the Minerals and Mining Act, 2007, and relevant regulations.
He added that the final list was delayed due to reconciliation of claims by some licence holders who reported making payments through Remita.
The latest exercise brings the total number of mineral titles revoked under the current administration to 3,794, including licences earlier withdrawn for non-payment of service fees and prolonged dormancy.