Mining title: 60% defaulters respond to warning letters, says D-G

Mohammed Amate, Director General, the Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office (MCO), has said that more than 60 per cent mining title defaulters have responded to a recent one-month notice, warning them of impending revocation by the office.

Amate said that MCO issued warning letters to more than 2,000 mining licensees early this month to pay off their debts and also comply with the rules of the sector to avoid revocation of their mining titles.

He said the warning letters were issued due to non-payment of annual service fees, refusal to submit periodic reports, refusal to commence mining activities and other related offences.

The D-G said in line with the provisions of the Nigeria Minerals and Mining Act (NMMA) 2007, the MCO would commence revocation of mineral titles of those that refused to comply with the warning letters at the end of this month.