The Federal Government has warned title holders about hoarding mineral-rich land without tangible development to either develop their concessions or relinquish them, as it will no longer tolerate the practice. The Director General of the Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office (MCO), Obadiah Simon-Nkom, stated this to journalists in Abuja and stressed the government’s use-it-or-lose-it approach to mineral licensing.
He announced that the agency recorded over N6.95 billion in revenue in the first quarter of 2025, attributing the milestone to sweeping reforms, digital transformation, and strategic licensing practices, EMC+, which has been operational since November 2022.
Simon-Nkom said the system, which is now the sole channel for all mineral title applications and transactions in Nigeria, has revolutionized the process, offering real-time updates and improved efficiency, as 152 license modifications were processed in Q1, covering mineral changes, relinquishments, transfers, and renewals.
“Out of 955 applications received in Q1, 651 were for exploration licenses, an expected trend given exploration’s role as the foundation for viable mining projects. The principle remains: ‘Use it or lose it.’ We’re no longer in an era where people hoard vast mineral-rich lands without development. If the deposit is not economically viable, surrender the title and move on.”
According to the DG, these efforts were part of broader reforms inspired by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development's seven-point agenda, aimed at curbing illegal mining, enhancing investor confidence, and sanitizing the sector.
Simon-Nkom said the MCO has transitioned from outdated polygon-based licensing to a modern, web-based electronic mining cadastral system that tracks every stage of the application process, improves transparency, and reduces room for manipulation.
He said the agency now works closely with security and anti-graft agencies, as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) recently cleared the office of compliance concerns and commended its digitization efforts.
According to him, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), in particular, sees licensing agencies like the MCO as critical to Nigeria’s efforts to exit the global Financial Action Task Force (FATF) “grey list.”
The DG noted that the N6.95 billion revenue was driven by system-governed fees such as annual service fees, processing charges, late renewal penalties, and search/certification charges, while noting that the review of license fees, far from being arbitrary, involved recalibrating charges to match land usage realities.
“If you want to hold 200 square kilometers, you’ll pay proportionately; no more paying the same fee as someone holding 20 square kilometers”. This streamlines the licensing system, encourages operational mines, and weeds out speculators.
The DG described the office as a mini court, handling petitions with legal and technical scrutiny, adding that mechanisms such as affidavits, traditional ruler validation, and community engagement are employed to ensure due process.
The agency was established in 2007, with the responsibilities for the administration and management of mineral titles in Nigeria, in accordance with Section 5 (1) of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007.