According to Reuters on April 24th, Nigeria's Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Deli Alake, recently announced that the country has revoked 924 idle mining licenses and will transfer mining rights to new investors who voluntarily apply on a "first-come, first-served" basis. As part of mining reforms last November, the government revoked 1633 mining licenses that had not paid the required fees. Alake stated that this move aims to combat illicit mining rights trading, as some entities or individuals would sell licenses at inflated prices on the black market after obtaining them.