Section 3: Lands excluded from Minerals exploration and Exploitation.

(1) No mineral title granted under this Act shall authorise reconnaissance, exploration or exploitation of mineral resources on, or in, or the erection of beacons on or the occupation of any land-
(a) set apart for, or used for or appropriated or dedicated to any military purpose except with the prior approval of the president ;
(b) within fifty metres of an oil pipeline licence area granted under the Oil Pipeline Act ;
(c) occupied by any town, village, market, burial ground or cemetery, ancestral, sacred or archaeological site, appropriated for a railway or situated within fifty metres of a railway, or which is the site of, or within fifty metres of, any government or public building, reservoir, dam or public road ;
(d) that is subject to the provisions of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments Act, Cap. N19, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and the National Parks Service Act, Cap. N65, laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 ; or
(e) over which a Mineral Title has previously been granted by the Mining Cadastre Office and where such Mineral Title is subsisting.
(2) No reconnaissance activity shall be carried out and no mineral title shall be granted under this Act over any area that is designated as closed to mining operations.