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Mining Sector: FG Revokes 1,633 Mineral Titles

Published

3 years ago

November 22, 2023

Joel Ajayi
As part of its efforts to sanitize and reposition the solid mineral sector of the economy for international competitiveness, the Federal Government has wielded the big stick of revoking 1,633 minerals titles of defaulting mining companies.

The Minister for Solid Minerals Development Dr Oladele Alake made this announcement during the press conference on the revocation of defaulting mineral titles, held at the Ministry’s Headquarters Office in Abuja.

Dr. Alake explained that the extant law governing mineral titles empowered the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development to revoke the mineral titles of companies who refuse to give the government it’s due by failing to pay their annual service fee.
He said: ” it is indeed very unconscionable for corporate bodies making huge profits from mining to refuse to give the government it’s due by failing to pay their annual service fee.”

Quoting extensively from the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007 ( NMMA Act 2007) the Minister stated that section 10 subsection b of the Act provides for the payment of the Annual Service Fee by mining companies, which is a fee established at a fixed rate per square cadastral unit for administrative and management services rendered by the Mining Cadastre Office ( an agency of the Ministry).

Elaborating further Dr Alake submitted that ” the amount the companies are being asked to pay is a peanut compared to their own revenue projections. For example, the holder of an exploraton title pays only N1,500 per cadastral unit not exceeding 200 units. Those holding titles covering more than 200 units pay N2,000 per unit”.

In short, the larger the area your title covers the more you pay. This principle was applied to ensure that applicants don’t hold more than they require to explore. With a cadastral unit captured as a square of 500metres by 500 metres, any law- abiding title holder should not hesitate to perform it’s obligations”‘, the Minister emphasized.

On whether adequate notice was given to the defaulting mining companies, the Minister explained that aside the administrative alert signal received by mineral title holder for payment as at when due, the Mining Cadastre Office has also issued a 30- day notice in compliance to section 14 of the NMMA Act 2007.

” The mandatory 30 days expired on November 10 2023. Only 580 title holders responded by settling their indebtedness. With this development, the Mining Cadastre Office ( MCO) 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 ”, the Minister asserted.

Riding on this, Dr Alake emphatically declared: ”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. I hereby warn the previous holders of these titles to leave the relevant cadastre with immediate effect as security agencies shall work with the Mines Inspectorate of the Ministry to apprehend any defaulter found on any of the areas where titles have been revoked”.

The revocation is imperative to free up space for serious investors and to shore up the revenue to the government, the Minister stated.

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AWESSA 2026: Customs Assures Border Cooperation for Women Entrepreneurs

Published

23 hours ago

October 25, 2026

The Gleamer

By James Samuel, Abuja

The Nigeria Customs Service has said the nation’s borders must become gateways of opportunity for African women entrepreneurs, not obstacles that kill their businesses.

This was disclosed at the African Women’s Economic Sovereignty Summit and Awards (AWESSA) 2026 held at the Customs House, corporate headquarters of the Nigeria Customs Service in Abuja.

Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, his representative, an Assistant Controller, said hosting the summit inside Customs premises was deliberate.

“That this summit holds within the Customs premises is no accident. It is a statement of intent,” he said.

“The border is where the promise of every African trader either comes alive or dies quietly. And the men and women of this Service have resolved that for every woman entrepreneur of this continent, that promise will never die.”

He said women account for an estimated 70% of informal cross-border trade in Africa and over half of agricultural labour, yet they face documentation, standards, finance and harassment challenges.

“Too often she meets the border as an obstacle rather than a gateway. Because she trades in small volumes, in cash, in informality without formal papers, capable business women are now trapped in informality, invisible to trade statistics,” he noted.

He added: “AfCFTA will not be delivered by treaties alone. It will be delivered at border posts, in conference halls, and in market stores.”

Also speaking, the Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, represented by a Director, said women are central to Nigeria’s non-oil export sector.

According to her, NEPC’s focus is now on building export- ready competitive enterprises through programmes like the Women in Export Initiative, Export Clinic, and Zero to Export.

“Our focus is no longer on encouraging exports alone, it is on building competitive export-ready enterprises. We are supporting women to move beyond production into value addition, quality assurance, standard compliance, branding and market positioning,” she said.

She said AfCFTA offers a market of over one billion people, but women need knowledge, certifications and institutional support.

“Empowering women economically is one of the most effective tools for achieving poverty reduction, food security, job creation and inclusive growth,” she stated.

The Convener, Helen Okon, who is the Publisher of Business Review Africa & Africa Today Magazine, as well as representatives of NAFDAC DG and NEXIM Bank MD, reaffirmed commitment to supporting women-owned businesses access standards, certification and finance.

The summit, with the theme of positioning women as drivers of trade and sustainable development, is part of activities marking the International Year of the Women Farmer.

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