The Mining and Minerals Regulatory Authority (MMRA) has given non-compliant mining licence holders 30 days to settle outstanding fees, submit statutory reports, and regularise operations or risk having their licences cancelled.
In a press release issued on Monday, the Authority said a nationwide Mineral License Compliance Audit conducted between 2020 and 2025 uncovered widespread irregularities across the mining sector.
According to the MMRA, the audit revealed that several license holders have failed to pay ground rent and mineral royalties, neglected to submit mandatory statutory reports, and continued holding inactive or dormant licenses.
The Authority has now given all non-compliant operators a 30-day window to regularise their status.
This includes settling all outstanding fees and royalties, submitting pending reports, and aligning operations with licence conditions.
“Failure to comply within the stipulated period will result in cancellation of licences in accordance with the Mines and Minerals Act, 2023,” the statement reads.
The MMRA further indicated that affected licence holders will receive formal notices through registered addresses listed in the Mining Cadastre.
Additionally, cancellation notices will be made public at the Authority’s headquarters and on its official website for a period of 30 days.
The regulator has also warned that holders of expired, revoked, or cancelled licences will still be required to settle any outstanding financial obligations. These debts, the Authority said, are recoverable as public funds.
This comes barely days after the Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) called for a review of mining licenses, arguing that the country must ensure its mineral wealth delivers meaningful benefits to citizens.
