Evaluation of Mineral Rights Administration and Investment Climate for Solid Minerals in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria

The efficiency of mineral rights administration significantly influences investor confidence and the pace of solid mineral sector development. This study evaluates the mineral rights administration system and its effect on the investment climate for solid minerals in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria. A process analysis of the mining licence application and approval workflow was conducted using documentary review of Ministry of Mines and Steel Development procedural guidelines and investor experience interviews. Thirty structured interviews were completed with investors holding active mining licences and those who had abandoned licence applications in Plateau State. Investment climate indicators including ease of permitting, security of tenure, transparency, and consistency of regulatory interpretation were assessed using a bespoke scoring instrument. Findings reveal an average licence processing time of 22 months against the statutory 90-day timeline, attributable to inter-agency coordination failures and manual administrative processes. Security of tenure is undermined by overlapping claims arising from inadequate cadastral records. Investors cite regulatory unpredictability as the primary deterrent to long-term capital commitment. The study recommends full digitisation of the mining cadastre system, service level agreements for licence processing, and an investor grievance redress mechanism. Benchmarking against Botswana and Tanzania mineral rights models provides comparative policy insights. Keywords: mineral rights, investment climate, Plateau State, mining licence, regulatory reform.