The Federal Government of Nigeria has revoked 1,633 mineral titles previously granted to non-complying mining companies. The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, made the announcement today during a press briefing in Abuja.

The affected companies failed to pay the mandatory annual service fees of N1,500 per cadastral unit. “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,” said Alake.

“In line with the powers conferred on me by the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act (NMMA) 2007, Section 5 (a), I have approved the revocation of the 1,633 titles,” he added.

The Minister warned that the Federal Government will not hesitate to revoke the licenses of any other companies that fail to comply with the mining regulations. “We are committed to ensuring that the Nigerian mining sector is responsible, sustainable, and transparent,” he said.

This is the latest in a series of crackdowns on non-compliant mining companies by the Federal Government. In July, the government revoked the licenses of 50 companies that were found to be engaged in illegal mining activities.

The government’s actions are a sign that it is serious about cleaning up the Nigerian mining sector. The sector has been plagued by problems such as illegal mining, environmental degradation, and corruption.