Nigeria’s Mining Sector Sees Surge in Valid Mineral Titles

The announcement made by Mr. Obadiah Nkom, Director General of the Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office, revealed that the country currently holds a total of 6,884 valid mineral titles distributed across the six geopolitical zones. This disclosure took place at the 59th Annual International Conference and Exhibition (AICE) organized by the Mining Cadastre Office (MCO) of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) in Jos, the capital of Plateau state.

Mr. Nkom credited the successful achievement to the implementation of the Electronic Mining Cadastre System (eMC+), which has significantly streamlined and enhanced processes in the sector. The North Central region leads with 2,610 titles, followed by the North West with 1,183, South West with 1,302, North East with 890, South South with 569, and South East with 325 titles, respectively.

Furthermore, Mr. Nkom provided additional details, stating that between December 2021 and October 2022, a total of 4,607 mineral title and modification applications were received, following the introduction of eMC+. Since the public unveiling of the system in November 2022, there has been a substantial increase, with 10,805 new mineral title and modification applications submitted up to February 2024. Notably, 4,306 of these submissions were unassisted online, demonstrating a 39.85% adoption rate of the unassisted online system by stakeholders.

In light of these advancements, Mr. Nkom underscored the significance of organizing a sensitisation workshop to acquaint stakeholders in the mining sector with the adoption of the mining cadastre system – eMC+. This is aimed at ensuring optimal performance in the sector and facilitating a seamless transition to the new system.

Looking ahead, the office plans to document thematic maps to help mitigate conflicts of interest in mining cadastre sites, particularly in areas overlapping with farming, airports, military lands, pipelines, and other key areas of concern.

The surge in valid mineral titles reflects the positive impact of the Electronic Mining Cadastre System (eMC+) in revolutionizing the mining sector and promoting sustainable development. The increased efficiency and transparency brought about by the system have undoubtedly contributed to Nigeria’s evolving mineral and energy landscape.