The Mining Cadastre Office (MCO) has announced an impressive revenue generation of N10.9 billion between January and April 2025, reflecting renewed investor confidence and improved regulatory systems in Nigeria's mining sector.
In a statement issued by the Head of Press, Mrs. Grace Okeke, the Director-General of the MCO, Mr. Stephen Nkom, attributed the feat to sweeping reforms introduced by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, who has been championing transparency, digitisation, and private sector inclusion in the solid minerals value chain.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the MCO recorded N7 billion in mining fees in Q1 2025 alone.
The office also registered 118 new private mineral buying centres, signaling a broader inclusion of SMEs and new entrants into the sector. Out of 955 mining title applications, 651 were for exploration, 270 for small-scale mining, 49 for quarrying, and 24 for reconnaissance.
Mr. Nkom highlighted the role of the Electronic Mining Cadastre (eMC+) system—introduced in 2022—as a game changer, enabling automation, improved service delivery, and better access to mining data for both investors and regulatory agencies.
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He also noted that the MCO is collaborating closely with key agencies such as the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Nigeria Police Force, to curb illegal operations and promote responsible investment.
Furthermore, the MCO is strengthening its ties with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to ensure only legally registered and compliant companies are granted or retain mining licences. This partnership will ensure that all mining firms meet their statutory obligations, including timely filing of annual returns.
The Registrar-General of the CAC, Mr. Hussaini Magaji, recently visited MCO headquarters in Abuja to solidify collaboration between both agencies.
He stressed that strict compliance will support a cleaner, more credible operating environment for investors, especially small and medium-scale players entering the solid minerals space.
With these reforms, the MCO is positioning Nigeria's mining sector as a viable and attractive field for private investment, particularly for SMEs looking to diversify or expand their operations into mineral trading, exploration, or processing.
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