Collection of mineral royalties from Nigeria's mining sector will shift to the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) starting January 1, 2026. This follows a meeting in Abuja between Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake and NRS Chairman Zacch Adedeji on April 2, 2026. The decision stems from the Nigeria Tax Laws 2025, signed by President Bola Tinubu on June 26, 2025, which empower NRS to administer all federally collectable revenues.
The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development will retain its technical and regulatory role, providing mineral pricing data, geological information, and sector coordination. A joint statement endorsed by Alake and Adedeji confirmed the handover of royalty collection to NRS. Operators will be guided through a nationwide sensitisation programme on royalty filing and payments under the new framework.
A digital royalty administration system will be developed to support the transition. Regular joint technical sessions will address implementation challenges. Both agencies pledged close collaboration to ensure transparency and sector growth. Mining operators are urged to comply with filing and payment requirements as the new regime takes effect.
Shifting mineral royalty collection to NRS places Dele Alake's ministry in a backseat role despite its deep sector knowledge. With Zacch Adedeji now controlling the revenue tap, the real test is whether this bureaucratic reshuffle will reduce leakages or simply add layers to an already tangled system. Nigerian miners face yet another administrative overhaul—one they've seen before with little payoff. If past reforms are any guide, this change may matter more on paper than in practice.
