With the creation of necessary legislative framework such as the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007 to attract both local and foreign investors to the mining sector, the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development through its Mining Cadastre office has begun the final phase of the revalidation of all mineral titles issued under the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007.

The revalidation exercise which   is aimed at ensuring that the provisions of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007 have been strictly adhered to should not be termed as revocation of Mining Licenses/Leases.

To this end, the revalidation of mineral titles would be based on these requirements which are not only limited to the following: - Minimum work programme; Pre – feasibility report, Evidence of financial capacity; Evidence of Technical competence; Notice to land owner/land occupier; Survey of the area (for leases); Payment of Surface Rent (for leases) as well as specification of mineral(s) to be explored or exploited.

All holders of mineral titles which were granted since the inception of the Mining Cadastre Office in 2007 are requested to submit the relevant requirements as contained in the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007 (NMMA, 2007) within two weeks from Monday, May 25,2009 to the Mining Cadastre office of the Ministry. The Ministry would enforce the provisions of the NMMA, 2007 on Title holders who fail to provide the necessary requirements.

Once the revalidation exercise is completed, the Ministry will commence the issuance of new mining licenses / leases.

In a related development in order to enable the Artisanal and Small Scale Miners improve on their mining operations, the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development through its Sustainable Management of Mineral Resources Project of the World Bank is ready to disburse the   sum of Ten Million Dollar ($10 Million Dollar) as grant to them.

A grant fund of $10 Million Dollar which is part of the N120 million grant approved by the World Bank is  to assist  the Artisanal and Small Scale Miners (ASM)  to acquire physical assets, training and services and  provide social infrastructures for mining communities.

The first ten (10) beneficiaries of the grant approved by the Ministry and the World Bank on a pilot basis while subsequent approvals would be on a monthly basis so as to ensure that the amount is transparently and equitably distributed in line with the objectives of the grant. 

 Seven (7) Artisanal and Small Scale Mining Projects and three (3) community Projects which are the first beneficiaries include:

·       Irrigwe Women Cooperative Society, Odus, Bauchi Ring

Road Jos, Plateau State.

·       Rarin-sho Multi Purpose Society, Barkin – Ladi, Plateau State.

·        Funakaye Gypsum Miners Co-operative Society

Funakayye, Gombe State.

·        Kufena South Quarry Workers Union, Zaria Kaduna State

·       Gypsum Miners and Suppliers Co-operative Society,

Sokoto, Sokoto State.

·        Abomege Sand Suppliers Multi-Purpose Cooperative

Society ,Ebonyi State.

·       Ido-Osi Local Government Tipper/Quarry Cooperative

Multi-Purpose Society,Ido-Osi Local Government.,Ekiti

State.

·       Azara Community Development Association, Awe local

Government, Nasarawa State.

·       Irewole Quarrible Associated Cooperative Society, (C.D.A).

Irewole Local Government Osun State

·       Osina Community Development Association, Yala Local Government, Cross- River State.