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Nigeria mandates mining firms finalise community development agreements by end-2025, following a review revealing widespread non-compliance with the legal requirement.

Nigeria’s government has ordered all mining and quarrying companies licensed by the Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office (MCO) to conclude Community Development Agreements (CDAs) with host communities by December 31, 2025. Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, issued the directive after reviewing CDA compliance in the first half of 2025. A Mines Environmental Compliance (MEC) report showed that while 74 new mineral titles were granted, only 24 CDAs were signed. In 2023 alone, the MCO issued 1,388 titles — including 960 small-scale licences, 391 quarry licences, and 37 mining leases — all legally required to sign CDAs before extraction. Yet, only 342 agreements have been executed to date.