Section 25, The Mines and Minerals Act, 2009

(1) Notwithstanding any provisions of this Act to thecontrary, the Minister may by notice in the Gazette and in a local newspaper designate any area in which minerals have been discovered by a Government survey, as an exploration area or mining area. (2) Where an area is designated as an exploration or mining area under subsection (1), the Minister shall not award any mineral rights to any person in respect of such area except by way of public tender.