The Federal Government has ruled out reversing the revocation of mining licences belonging to companies that failed to meet their statutory obligations or accumulated outstanding debts.
The government said it would not be swayed by media campaigns, diplomatic pressure or international arbitration, insisting that compliance with Nigerian mining laws remains mandatory for all operators.
Special Adviser to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Kehinde Bamigbetan, stated that the revocations were based on repeated violations and that affected companies must fulfil their legal obligations before seeking any form of redress.
Bamigbetan also dismissed allegations that the government favours Chinese mining companies over Western investors, describing the claims as a coordinated attempt to discredit the ministry.
According to him, one of the affected firms, instead of paying an outstanding debt of about N2.494 billion, resorted to international arbitration and media attacks in a bid to pressure the government into reversing its decision.
Responding to claims that the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has a pro-China bias, Bamigbetan said the minister had visited China only twice in three years, both on official engagements.
He added that Nigeria’s mining sector remains open to all legitimate investors, regardless of nationality, provided they comply with the country’s laws and regulations.
The government maintained that more than 300 Western companies are currently operating in Nigeria’s mining industry, stressing that enforcement actions are based solely on compliance and not the origin of investors.
