The Federal Government of Nigeria, has announced the revocation of mineral titles of 1,633 defaulter mining companies.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, who disclosed this at a press briefing in Abuja, said the licenses were revoked due to failure of holders to pay mandatory annual service fees of N1,500 per cadastral unit.
Consequently, he has ordered the former title holders to vacate the relevant cadastre immediately.
According to the Minister, security agencies, in collaboration with the Mines Inspectorate of the Ministry, have been directed to apprehend any defaulters found in the areas where titles have been revoked.
Alake noted that despite a 30-day written default notice from the Mining Cadastre Office, the holders were found in violation and non-compliance with their statutory obligations to the government.
“The Mining Cadastre Office has recommended the revocation of 1,633 mineral titles as follows: Exploration Licence, 536; Quarry Licence, 279; Small Scale Mining Licence, 787 and Mining Lease, 31. “In line with the powers conferred on me by the NMMA 2007, Section 5 (a), I have approved the revocation of the 1,633 titles.”