The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, which represents the Federal Government, has invalidated 924 mineral licenses that were not in use.
Dele Alake, the Minister of Solid Development Minerals, revealed this at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday.
The cancelled licenses consist of 528 exploration permits, 20 mining leases, 101 quarry permits, and 273 small-scale mining permits.
The ministry had previously invalidated 1,633 mineral titles granted to non-compliant mining companies in November.
The minister also pledged to improve the solid minerals sector to compete internationally and encouraged any wrongdoers in the industry to change their ways.
During the briefing, Alake mentioned that the ministry took this step after discovering a problem of license fraud among industry participants.
He explained that they had provided sufficient notice to the concerned parties through an official gazette, as required by the constitution.
“This notice allowed all concerned parties 30 days to resolve their status and provide explanations for why their licenses were not being used,
“Therefore, in adherence to due process and the use it or lose it policy, I am revoking the 924 inactive licenses immediately.
“These include 528 exploration licences, 20 mining leases, 101 quarry licences, and 273 small-scale mining licences.”
