Mining · Nigeria
Obtain a mineral title / mining licence
Acquire a mineral title from the Mining Cadastre Office (reconnaissance permit, exploration licence, small-scale or full mining lease, quarry lease): choose title → apply at MCO → pay fees → grant (first-come, first-served on area).
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Who you will deal with
The steps
- Choose the mineral title and confirm eligibility
- Mining Cadastre Office (MCO)
- Select the appropriate title (applicant must be a Nigerian citizen or a company incorporated in Nigeria). Types & fees: Reconnaissance Permit ₦300,000; Exploration Licence ₦600,000 (3 yrs, ≤200 km²); Small-Scale Mining Lease ₦300,000 (5 yrs, ≤3 km²); Mining Lease ₦3,000,000 (25 yrs, ≤50 km²); Quarry Lease ₦600,000; Water Use Permit ₦300,000.
- CAC incorporation (for companies); proof of eligibility
- Selection stage
- Apply at the Mining Cadastre Office
- Mining Cadastre Office (MCO)
- Obtain and complete the application form and submit in triplicate with required documents. A Mining Lease additionally requires a pre-feasibility study and a minimum work programme signed by a COMEG-registered professional.
- Completed form (x3); pre-feasibility study & COMEG-signed work programme (mining lease)
- Application stage
- Pay processing and service fees
- Mining Cadastre Office (MCO)
- Pay the title processing fee plus the annual service fee (₦31,500 per cadastral unit for the first time).
- Evidence of fee payment
- On application
- Grant of the mineral title
- Mining Cadastre Office (MCO)
- The MCO checks area availability (first-come, first-served) and grants the title.
- Complete application
- ≤30 working days (permits/licences); ≤45 (leases)
The numbers behind the decision
Knowing the process is half of it. ONYX also tracks the operating environment you are entering — daily grid generation, official FX, state-level input prices and inflation, and sector output — each figure source-linked and dated.