Alake Sets December 31 Deadline for Mining Firms’ Community Agreements

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has issued a stern warning to mining and quarrying companies, giving them until December 31, 2025, to finalize Community Development Agreements (CDAs) with their host communities or face severe sanctions. The directive, announced on Thursday, underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that mining activities benefit local populations.

According to a statement from the Minister’s office, the decision was based on a performance review by the Mines Environmental Compliance (MEC) department, which revealed a significant gap in compliance. The report showed that while 74 new mineral titles were issued in the first half of 2025, only 24 CDAs were signed. This low rate of compliance, Alake said, is unacceptable and will no longer be tolerated.

“We have penalized companies that owed annual service fees by revoking their titles. Refusal to protect the Nigerian people by agreeing with them on what the communities will gain from the mineral exploitation of their land is criminal expropriation and an unpardonable injustice,” the Minister said. He warned that any company found guilty after the deadline would not only lose their license but would also be required to pay reparations for minerals already extracted.

Dr. Alake also offered advice to the host communities, urging them to form strong negotiation teams comprising retired professionals. This, he noted, would help them secure tangible, lasting projects and programs that would benefit women, youth, and the community as a whole, rather than settling for personal favors from mining companies.