Nigeria - Apply for Small Scale Mining Lease

ProcedureEdit

Apply In-Person:

To apply for Small Scale Mining Lease in person, the applicant has to visit the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development (MMSD) under the Mining Cadastre Office. The address and contact details can be found in the following link: Link
Visit the office and get an application form for Small Scale Mining Lease from the relevant department.
Complete the application form with appropriate information under relevant sections. Attest it with your signature once completed.
Then, submit it in person to the relevant authority at the office in 3 copies along with the required documents (as mentioned in the “Required Documents” section of this page) and make payment of the required processing fees to the MCO (Mining Cadastre Officer).
Every submitted application is usually assigned with an identifying code and registered with date, hour and minute in the priority register dully signed and an acknowledgment copy will be given to the applicant.
Upon submission and receipt of an application, the MCO will notify land owner or occupiers in order to obtain an irrevocable consent to be submitted to MCO within 7 days.
The applicant will be duly informed to effect necessary corrections where applicable within a period of 5 working days; and if no response within the specified period, the application will be rejected without any refund. Where all information have been verified, the MCO will input spatial and non- spatial data of the application into its system after which the application is further evaluated and recommended.
Upon evaluation and recommendation, the applicant is granted a lease, license or permit. Having granted the lease, license or permit, the applicant is expected to pay the Annual Service Fee within two weeks.

Note: The fee is one of the pre- requisite before collection of the license or permit or lease. If the applicant fails to pay the Annual Service Fees within fourteen (14) days after collection of the notification of grant, the grant will automatically be withdrawn.

Required DocumentsEdit

Exploration License
Certified true copy of company certificate and other incorporation documents
Completed application forms
Pre-Feasibility Report
Prospecting plan
Payment of processing fee
Evidence of financial capability
Evidence of technical competence or COMEG accredited geologist
Irrevocable consent from the landowner(s) and/or occupier(s) to the applicant
Attestation of non-conviction of criminal offences under the Act by a Lawyer

Office Locations & ContactsEdit

Ministry of Mines and Steel Development - Head Office,
No. 2, Luanda Crescent,
off Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent,
Wuse II, Abuja, F.C.T., Nigeria.
Tel: +234 908 740 4761, +234 908 740 4762, +234 908 740 4763
E-mail: [email protected] , [email protected]
Website :Link

EligibilityEdit

A qualified applicant for a Small-scale Mining Lease is-

A citizen of Nigeria with legal capacity and who has not been convicted of a criminal offence. Or
A Mining Co-operative. Or
A body corporate duly incorporated under the Companies and Allied Matters Act. Or
The holder of an Exploration Licence granted in respect of the area subject to the application; provided that the applicant has fulfilled all the conditions attached to the Exploration Licence.

FeesEdit

The Mining Cadastre Office will collect-

A fee for processing of applications for mineral titles; and
An annual service fee established at a fixed rate per square cadastral unit for administrative and management services rendered by the Cadastre.

SERVICES::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::SMALL MINING LEASE
Application Processing fee:::::::::::::::::::::::::::N10,000
Annual Service Fee:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::N10,000
Renewal Fee:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::N30,000
Late Renewal::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::N100,000

ValidityEdit

The duration of a Small Scale Mining Lease is 5 years, which is subject to renewal.

Documents to UseEdit

Please attach documents that can be used by people. e.g. links

Sample DocumentsEdit

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing TimeEdit

Within forty-five days of since submission of application.

InstructionsEdit

The area covered by a Small-scale Mining Lease must not be less than 5 acres and must not exceed 3 square kilometres.
All lease holders must carry out effective rehabilitation of the mined out areas to the satisfaction of the Mines Environmental Compliance Department and also pay prescribed rehabilitation fee, proportionate to their profits as a way to defray further cost of rehabilitation and reclamation.
The Small-scale and Artisanal Mining Department must ensure that mining activities are restricted to the established zones of mineralisation.

Required InformationEdit

A list which displays the kind of information which is required to complete the procedure.
e.g.
1. Date of Birth.
2. City or Country of Birth.

Need for the DocumentEdit

Every investor or company willing to engage in the mining sector requires a government approval or license to proceed with or without a mining lease.

Information which might helpEdit

The requirements for obtaining mining lease in Nigeria and other requisite licenses may be cumbersome, but engaging a professional, such as legal any practitioner that has the knowledge of the enabling Act with experience in processing mining leases or licenses could be of a great assistance in expediting and simplifying the process.

External LinksEdit

OthersEdit

In the case the Small-scale Mining Lease or Mining Lease holder wholly discontinues operations under the Lease during a continuous period of six months, the mineral title will be revoked.