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Government revokes 593 mining titles

By on December 25, 2013

The Federal Government has revoked a total of 593 mining titles, the Director-General, Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office, Mr. Mohammed Amate, has said.

Amate said this at a media roundtable on the review of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development roadmap, which was chaired by the minister in charge, Mr. Musa Sada, in Abuja on Monday.

He also said that a total of 1,670 holders of mineral titles had defaulted in the payment of their annual service fees.

Amate said, “Section 151 of the Nigerian Mineral and Mining Act, 2007 was invoked by the minister against 593 mineral titles for non-compliance with Section 11 and its Regulations 2011.

“A list of 1,670 holders of mineral titles, who have defaulted in the payment of annual service fees, has also been compiled.

“Compilation of defaulters is a continuous process and may result in the revocation of those titles from holders who refuse, fail or neglect to remedy their payments or any other statutory obligations in line with the NMMA Act, 2007 and the Regulations 2011.”

The revoked titles comprise 237 exploration licences, 302 quarry leases and 47 small-scale mining leases, while the list of fee defaulting title holders include 929 exploration licences, 14 mining leases, 625 quarry leases and 102 small-scale mining leases.

Amate also noted that the activities of the cadastral office had led to an upsurge in the number of applications for mineral titles received within the year.

According to him, a total of 1,858 applications for mineral titles were received between January and September. Out of this number, 1,179 approvals for various mineral titles were granted within the timeframe.

Also, the Sole Administrator, Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited, Mr. Joseph Isa, said without fund, the best way to go was to invite private participation in the programme of conversion of billets and blooms to finished products and operation of some units in the company.

He said with the approval of the minister, a Memorandum of Understanding had been signed for the reactivation and operation of several units of the steel complex.

 

 

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