FG Receives 40% Online Mineral Tittles Application

Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

The federal government has stated that it has received 40 percent Online Mineral Tittles Application since the launch of eMC+ in November 2022.

Director General, Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office (NMCO), Simon Nkom gave the hint at a one-day retreat in Abuja, with the theme: “Repositioning MCO Through Attitude Transformation for Improved Productivity.”

He noted that quicker and more transparent administration of mineral titles can discourage illegal mining, which is where the eMC+ is a game changer.

Speaking to Journalists on the sidelines of the event, he said: “now that the office has a new digital system, it was important to train the staff on how to handle the operations of the new technology effectively to take the management and administration of mineral titles to a higher level.”

According to him, We have a new technology, and if the people do not re-orient themselves, then we are going to have a problem in terms of the process, we are going to have a problem in terms of the new technology that we have.

“The essence of today’s event, just like the theme captures it, is to reposition the entire mining cadastre to meet up with current challenges. We have a new system that all of you are witnesses to, which is the eMC plus; we have to be able to adapt to it. 

“We have to be able to now review our system; we have to do a rethink and be able to now look forward into the coming years. We know where we are coming from. We know where we are, we have to be able to now know where we are going. In view of that, there is a need for the staff to have a retreat, to make it work better so we are able to fulfil the purpose why it was birthed as more and more investors were keying into the online platform, “he said”

On how the system will help in curbing illegal mining in the country, the DG said though it was not the mandate of his agency, however, quicker and more transparent administration of mineral titles can discourage illegal mining, which is where the eMC+ is a game changer.

Similarly, the Director, Internal Affairs, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ahmad Saad Abubakar, said corruption had defied government’s policies and measures in the past, but that the new technology by NMCO should be put to good use to ensure corrupt-free operations.

He noted that corruption is probably the most important factor affecting service delivery in Nigeria today, stating, “The federal government over the years has introduced several policies and law to tackle the problem of corruption in the public sector such as the EFCC Act 2004, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) Act as well as the Service Delivery Initiative.”

Abubakar, who represented the Commission’s chairman, delivered a paper entitled, “Ensuring Corrupt-free Organisation for Excellent Service Delivery.”

He urged the management of the Mining Cadastre Office to effectively carry out their responsibilities as leaders in government to promote a corrupt free environment and ensure that services are delivered timely, fairly, honestly and in a transparent manner.