By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA – AS non-oil sector takes centre stage for revenue generation, the Director General, DG, Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office, NMCO, Engr Obadiah Nkom, Monday, disclosed of generating N26,230,733,463.00 in five years.

Nkom made the disclosure during an oversight visit by the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals led by the Chairman, Senator Sampson Ekong.

According to him, the agency has been dogged in revenue generation using the ‘Use it or Loss it’ policy, which had made operators to remit what accrues to the government, with 100 per cent remittance of all revenues generated to the Federal Government Treasury Single Account, TSA.

He said: “Revenue generated from 2019 – October, 2024 N26,230,733,463.00 representing 75% of revenue generated Revenue generated from 2023 to October, 2024 is N13,194,261,761.00. This represents an increase of 63% over N8,094,875,765.00 generated in the corresponding period from, 2021 – September, 2022.

“Revenue generated by the Office from inception to date is N36,048,229,019.00.”

He also said the Office has been able to record tremendous success including completion of first phase of Acquisition, Geo-referencing and Geocoding of Topographic Maps of Nigeria for integration into the Mining Cadastre Digital Database.

Completion of first phase of Production of Thematic Mapping of Mineral Title Restricted (Protected) Areas for integration into Nigeria Mining Cadastre Digital Database, 2022Participation in Numerous Local and International Mining Conferences such as London Mines and Money, Australia Down Under, Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC), Investing in African Mining Indaba, Cape town – South Africa etc. Participation in these conferences has served as a dependable platform for attracting foreign investment to the Mining Sector.

According to the MCO boss, the total number of mineral titles issued stand at 26,666, while total number of new mineral titles and modification applications received is 58,484; total number of applications refused is 19,583; total number of revoked titles is 11,699; and current number of valid titles is 7,283.

Meanwhile, he said, “The most recent innovation of the Office is the upgrade of the SIGTIM software to the web-based Online Mineral Title Administration and Management system – the electronic Mining Cadastre System (eMC+).

“The eMC+ is an online (real time) mineral title management system, which assists in the administration of Mineral Titles in a responsible, efficient and transparent manner, throughout the life cycle of the Titles. Internal usage of the system commenced in December, 2021.”

However, the MCO boss appealed to the Committee to assist the Office to achieve its pursuit for increased funding.

Meanwhile, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development, Senator Sampson Ekong, said that the visit aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s mining sector, therefore, emphasized that the visit was essential to ensure the NMCO fulfils its obligations in alignment with federal guidelines, enhancing the mining sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s economy.

“Insights from this visit have been valuable, and we will examine the reform processes. Strengthening the sector will require effective collaboration and reform. We have taken note of the issues raised, and our focus is to add value and transparency to this sector.”

He added that the committee will review the documentation provided by the NMCO and pledged continued support for the Cadastre.