The Mining Cadastre Office (MCO) has recorded a revenue of ₦10.9 billion between January and April 2025, reflecting ongoing efforts to revamp and modernize Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by the Head of Press at the agency, Mrs. Grace Okeke, quoting the Director-General, Mr. Simon Nkom.
According to Nkom, the revenue increase is largely due to reforms led by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, aimed at repositioning the mining sector as a key pillar of Nigeria’s non-oil revenue drive.
The MCO had earlier reported generating approximately ₦7 billion in mining fees and registering 118 new private mineral buying centres in the first quarter of 2025. The fees were from 955 applications for mining titles, including 651 for exploration licences, 270 for small-scale mining leases, 49 for quarrying permits, and 24 for reconnaissance permits.
Nkom credited the success to the 2022 launch of the Electronic Mining Cadastre (eMC+) system, which has improved transparency, streamlined application processes, and enhanced regulatory oversight. He said the digital platform has significantly reduced bureaucratic bottlenecks and increased accessibility for stakeholders.
In further support of regulatory compliance, the MCO is collaborating with institutions such as the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Nigeria Police Force. These partnerships aim to curb financial misconduct and enhance due diligence in the sector.
Additionally, the agency is working with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to ensure that only legally registered and compliant companies are granted mining licences. This was reaffirmed during a recent visit by CAC Registrar-General, Hussaini Magaji, who emphasized the need for inter-agency synergy in enforcing compliance and statutory obligations.
The Federal Government’s push to diversify revenue streams and reduce dependence on oil appears to be gaining momentum, with the solid minerals sector showing strong promise as a viable economic alternative.
