Nigeria Cadestre Mining Office (NCMO) is unlocking the future of minerals mining in the biggest economy in Africa with the introduction of an electronic system for easy application for a license from any part of the world; MATHEW DADIYA writes.
The nation’s mining office – Nigeria Cadestre Mining Office, NCMO has taken every step necessary to address the challenges of mining mineral resources in the country by placing it on the global map in line with the millennium strategy. It has upgraded and automated the office for online applications,e-recording, archiving, and establishment of Mining Cadastre Offices in the Six Geo-political Zones of Nigeria.
By its vision, the NCMO has been providing an independent, efficient, and transparent mining system that grants and administers mining licenses and permits by the provisions of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act (NMMA, 2007) in consistence with best international practices; with a mission to deliver service reliably, effectively, and professionally using objective standards and procedures by the provisions of the NMMA and its Regulations.
When invited to the Presidential Villa to tell Nigerians and the global community what he has done at the 63rd session of the Ministerial Briefing organized by the Presidential Communications Team at the State House, Abuja recently, the Director-General, Engr. Obadiah Nkom in his presentation tagged “an overview of Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office the Journey so far,” disclosed that Nigeria’s coal is sought after all over the world.
Nkom told miners globally that presently, the Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office has fully implemented the new electronic Mining Cadastre – System eMC+ and has conducted a stakeholder sensitization workshop, for the sustainable adoption of the new system to further enhance economic growth and ease of doing business in the nation’s mining sector.
The MCO has witnessed tremendous legal, institutional, and technological developments since its inception, and inventory of extant Mineral Titles, migration from polygonal geometry to cadastral block system, implementation of a functional manual cadaster as well as the development of Mining Cadastre Office Operations into a computerized system between 2007 and 2010, boasted while making a presentation.
It’s further noted that since they have adapted the Mining Cadastre System to the New Mining Law and Regulations 2011, the agency from 2018 to date, embarked on the development and implementation of a computerized online Mineral Title Administration system (establishment of a web-based Administration and Management of Mineral Title system) is unveiled November 1, 2022.
“The electronic Mining Cadastre – System eMC+ is a management system, which assists the administration of Mineral Titles in a responsible, efficient and transparent manner, throughout the life cycle of the Titles; Online (real-time),” Engr Nkom elaborated.
Some of the functions of the office include: Receive, consider,r and disposes applications for mineral titles and permits and application for the transfer, renewal, modification, and relinquishment of mineral titles or extension of areas; granting, issuing, suspend and (with the written approval of the Minister) revoke mineral title; maintain a chronological record of all applications for mineral titles in the Priority Register and General Register and Maintain the Cadastral Registers.
Others are to create and maintain a database of all mineral titles and applications; create and maintain a cartographic database of all mineral titles and applications in both paper and electronic formats (the cadastral maps) and undertake such other activities reasonably necessary for carrying out its duties and responsibilities under the provisions of the NMMA, 2007.”
There are other benefits of the electronic Mining Cadastre System beyond the benefits of, creating a window to provide exchange cadastral information with the MMSD (Ministry of Mines and Solid Minerals Development) Web Portal and access to information for better management decisions, Engr Nkom said.
Based on this transformation, the Director General said that the MCO has revoked 3,402 titles that were not used, adding that the agency makes sure that only the rightful people are given licenses
On the revenue generation, he said the agency has earned N14.59 billion in five years, explaining that in 2018, 2019, and 2020, the agency generated N1.55 billion, N2.38 billion, and N2.57 billion respectively. Though, the director general explained that between 2021 and 2022, its revenue fell from N4.3 to N3.79 billion respectively.
Nkom, who is the Director-General in charge of Rights in the Ministry of Mines further said that 100 percent of the Office’s revenues are sent to the Treasury Single Account, TSA, of the Federal Government, Nothing that the bulk of the revenue from application, processing, and annual service fees; which he said constitute 50 percent of the annual revenue generated from the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.
Acknowledging the participatory interventions, Executive Orders, and impactful support from the Executive arm of government for the MCO, Engr Nkom said, “it is all about service delivery for the good of all stakeholders, and reforms towards bridging the gap between staff and management, create a conducive working environment operation of open door policy.”