The Federal Government announced the revocation of 924 dormant mineral licences through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development.

Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, revealed this decision during a press conference held in Abuja. The revoked licences encompassed various categories, including 528 exploration licences, 20 mining leases, 101 quarry licences, and 273 small-scale mining licences.

Alake emphasized the government’s commitment to cleaning up the solid minerals sector to enhance its international competitiveness. He urged all stakeholders involved in the sector to adhere to regulations and operate responsibly.

The minister highlighted the ministry’s efforts to address licence racketeering, stating, “In line with constitutional provisions, we ensured that adequate notice was given to the concerned parties… This notice gave all concerned parties 30 days to regularize their status.”

Alake reiterated the principle of “use it or lose it,” emphasizing that the revocation of dormant licences was a necessary step to streamline the sector and ensure compliance with regulations.

The decision to revoke dormant licences follows similar actions taken by the ministry in November, where 1,633 mineral titles were revoked from non-complying mining companies.