The Federal Government through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has announced a fresh revocation of not less than 1,263 mineral licenses.

These licenses, which will now be deleted from the Electronic Mining Cadastral System portal of the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office, include 584 exploration licenses, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licenses, and 470 small-scale mining leases.

The minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, gave the revocation announcement in a statement issued by his special assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, on Sunday in Abuja.

The minister explained that the directive was issued due to the companies’ failure to comply with the requirement of paying their annual service fees.

The latest revocation brings the total mineral titles revoked under the current administration to 3, 794 including,619 mineral titles revoked for defaulting in paying annual service fees and 912 for dormancy last year.

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By opening up the areas formerly covered by these licenses, the revocation is expected to spur fresh applications by investors looking for fresh opportunities.

The statement read, “Not less than 1,263 mineral licenses will be deleted from the portal of the Electronic Mining Cadastral system of the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office, MCO, following their revocation by the Federal Government.

“These include 584 exploration licenses, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licenses, and 470 small-scale mining leases.”

Approving the revocation following the recommendation of the MCO, the Minister said applying the law to keep speculators and unserious investors away from the mining sector would make way for diligent investors and grow the sector.

“The era of obtaining licences and keeping them in drawers for the highest bidder, while financially capable and industrious businessmen are complaining of access to good sites, is over.

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“The annual service fee is the minimum evidence that you are interested in mining. You don’t have to wait for us to revoke the license because the law allows you to return the license if you change your mind,” the minister said.

He warned that the revocation does not mean the Federal Government has pardoned the annual service debt owed by licensees, adding that the list will be forwarded to the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission to ensure that debtors pay or face the wrath of the law.

“This is to encourage due diligence and emphasise the consequences of inundating the license application processes with speculative activities.”

In the recommendation to the minister, the Director-General of the MCO, Simon Nkom, disclosed that there were 1,957 initial defaulters when the MCO published the intention to revoke licences in the Federal Government Gazette on June 19, 2025.

He informed the minister that the gazette was distributed to MCO offices nationwide to sensitise licencees and encourage them to comply within 30 days in compliance with the Minerals and Mining Act 2007 and relevant regulations.

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He observed that the delay in the final recommendation was due to complaints of several licensees who claimed to have paid to the Federal Government through Remita and had to be reconciled.

Earlier this month, the DG MCO had hinted that more mining licences would be revoked as part of ongoing efforts to sanitise the solid minerals sector and protect investors from fraudsters.

According to Nkom, the clean-up exercise, which covers expired, speculative, and inactive titles, is necessary to make room for genuine investors and ensure compliance with the law.

This is part of ongoing efforts at sanitising the sector since the inception of the Tinubu administration, and the salutary effects of the reforms are massive and manifest despite the attempts to push back by defaulters and their agents.

Gynaecologists and dermatologists have warned expectant mothers to exercise caution in the use of skincare products during pregnancy, stressing that substances applied to the skin can be absorbed into the bloodstream and potentially harm the developing fetus.

The experts agreed that while beauty and self-care are important, they must never come at the cost of a baby’s safety.

Speaking to PUNCH Healthwise, the specialists stressed that expectant mothers should prioritise the health of their unborn children above cosmetic concerns and consult their healthcare providers whenever they are in doubt about any product.

A consultant gynaecologist, Dr. Akinsola Akinde, cautioned that many cosmetic and skincare products in the market contain heavy metals and other chemical agents that may be unsafe during pregnancy.

Akinde, a former Chairman of the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria, explained that when such substances are applied to the skin, they are not merely superficial but can penetrate the skin barrier and enter the general body system, a process known as transdermal absorption.

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The maternal health expert noted that certain heavy metals, such as mercury and lead, as well as bleaching agents like hydroxyquinolones, could cause grave complications if used during pregnancy.

According to him, the risks are particularly high in the early stages of pregnancy when the major organs of the fetus are being formed.

The physician said exposure to these harmful substances could result in severe malformations and, in some cases, lead to miscarriage if the damage is extensive enough to cause fetal demise.

“Pregnant women need to understand that skincare is not without consequences. If any of these toxic substances get absorbed in sufficient quantities, they can reach the unborn child and interfere with its development,” he warned.

The gynaecologist advised that any skincare products containing heavy metals or bleaching agents should be completely avoided during pregnancy.

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Instead, he recommended simple and natural alternatives such as petroleum jelly, olive oil, or coconut oil, which he described as safe, gentle, and non-harmful to both mother and baby.

He added, “Expectant mothers should take care that any skincare products they use while pregnant do not contain any chemicals that may be harmful to the developing fetus. Even when the ingredients look harmless, it is better to err on the side of caution.”

Akinde also observed that skin changes are common during pregnancy, with many women experiencing conditions such as hyperpigmentation and acne.

He explained that these are usually temporary and tend to resolve after childbirth, and urged women not to resort to aggressive cosmetic treatments that might endanger their babies.

“Pregnancy is a season of change, and some of those changes, especially on the skin, will fade on their own after delivery. That is a small price to pay for the honour of bringing a new life into the world,” he added.

Similarly, a dermatologist at a Lagos hospital, Dr. Abiola Oduyemi, stressed that many women often underestimate the risks associated with everyday skincare products during pregnancy.

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She noted that pregnant women are naturally more vulnerable because of the physiological changes their bodies undergo, which can make them more susceptible to the adverse effects of chemicals absorbed through the skin.

Oduyemi explained that the hormonal shifts of pregnancy not only change how the skin reacts to external products but can also alter the body’s detoxification mechanisms.

The skin care specialist warned that certain products, especially those marketed for skin-lightening, anti-ageing, or acne treatment, may contain strong active agents such as retinoids, salicylic acid, and steroids, which can have teratogenic effects and can interfere with normal fetal development.

“Because the skin is the largest organ of the body, anything you apply on it can find its way into your bloodstream. And when you are pregnant, your body becomes a shared system with your baby. So if you absorb it, your baby is also likely absorbing it,” she said.

She further highlighted that many pregnant women tend to use multiple cosmetic products at the same time without checking the ingredient labels or consulting their doctors.

According to her, the cumulative effect of using several products could result in high chemical exposure over time, which increases the risk of harming the unborn child.

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The specialist also expressed concern about the lack of regulation and oversight in the cosmetics market, noting that many skincare products sold in open markets and online platforms do not meet safety standards.

She called on regulatory authorities such as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control to intensify monitoring and enforce stricter controls to protect vulnerable populations, especially pregnant women.

She advised pregnant women to seek professional guidance before introducing any new skincare product during pregnancy and urged them to embrace simpler routines.

She stated, “It is safer to keep skincare minimal during pregnancy — moisturisers, mild soaps, and natural oils are usually enough. You can return to your normal regimen after delivery when your baby is no longer directly exposed to what you use.”

Former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has challenged any individual or group that has evidence he requested a third term in office to provide it to the public.

Obasanjo, who spoke on Wednesday at the democracy dialogue organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Accra, dismissed claims that he sought a third term in office.

According to the former president, no Nigerian, living or deceased, can provide evidence to substantiate such claims, insisting that he never pursued such an ambition.

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He said, “I’m not a fool. If I wanted a third term, I know how to go about it. And there is no Nigerian dead or alive that would say I called him and told him I wanted a third term,” Obasanjo said.

He emphasised his ability to secure difficult achievements, noting that securing debt relief for Nigeria during his administration was a far greater challenge than obtaining a third term in office.

“I keep telling them that, look, if I wanted to get debt relief, which is more difficult than getting a third term and I got it, if I wanted a third term, I would have got it too,” he said.

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Obasanjo also warned against leaders who overstay their tenure, describing the mindset of indispensability as a “sin against God.”

“I know that the best is done when you are young, ideal and vibrant and dynamic. When you are ‘kuje kuje’ you don’t have the best. But some people believe that unless they are there, nobody else,” he said.

“They will even tell you that they haven’t got anybody else. I believe that that is a sin against God, because if God takes you away, which God can do anytime, then somebody else will come, and that somebody else may do better or may do worse.”