Online Mineral Title Administration To Attract Investment, Boost Revenue Generation — Nkom
The recent unveiling of Electronic Mining Cadastre Plus, eMC+ has been praised by stakeholders for the real solutions it seeks to bring in the administration of country’s mineral resources.
At the unveiling ceremony which coincided with the Nigeria Mining Week 2022, the Director General of Mining Cadastre Office, Engr Obadiah Simon Nkom noted that the innovation which allows mineral title applicants to submit applications online will engender confidence in the sector, attract foreign direct investment and boost the nation’s revenue generation drive.
“The electronic filing system initially were computerized, but now we have migrated to an online system, which simply means that you can stay anywhere in the world. You can even use your phone to be able to have access to this system. By the time you have access to the Mining Cadastre Office information, it makes the system very transparent and accessible.
“It can save time and also eliminate the stress of travelling. At the end of the day, you find out that it becomes more effective and more efficient, and easily usable. You can use your phone or laptops to operate the eMC+” Engr. Nkom told reporters.
The innovation which he said will enhance revenue generation is easy to use and is targeted at advancing ease of doing business policy of the federal government.
Engr. Nkom also stressed that the eMC+ was created and launched in a bid to advance technological enhancement in the sector and operate effectively and efficiently.
“It is an electronic mining cadastral system and you are very much aware the mandate of the Nigerian Mining Cadastre is the administration and management of mineral titles. So we must be able to now do it in the best way possible.
“And at the end of the day in line with the law, because when you look at practices of mineral titles in the world, you will know that definitely there is a need to be able to now spice it up with principles, which is simply like priority, transparency and a lot of things which makes it different from other countries and makes people to come here” he added.
Speaking on MCO’s achievement in terms of boosting the country’s economy, he said, the agency has over the years surpassed each year’s revenue target.
“Over the past years, we have surpassed each year’s revenue irrespective of the challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic. We surpassed from 2019 up to date, in fact, in 2021, we had an 86% increase in revenue. So we hope at the end of the day, we will continue to be able to add adequate value and revenue to our economy irrespective of illegal activities in the sector.
“Therefore, I look at this launch as just the beginning of the walk. We need to continually improve on it, we will continue to upgrade the system to make sure it is more compatible with all other systems.
“And most importantly there are a lot of competitions in the world. When people come to Nigeria, they ask if the laws are favorable” he stated.
Earlier in his speech, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said the Electronic Mining Cadastral plus (eMC+) will help in the administration and management of mineral titles to ensure transparency and accessibility of information.
VENUE: INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTER (ICC)
DATE: 1st NOVEMBER 2022
EVENT HOST: MINISTRY OF MINES AND STEEL DEVELOPMENT.
ORGANISED BY: MINERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (MAN)
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH: PWC, VUKA GROUP, MINING REVIEW AFRICA.
LOCAL MEDIA PARTNER: THE ROCK POST PUBLICATIONS.
