The Nigerian government is escalating its efforts to sanitise the solid minerals sector, with the Mining Cadastre Office (MCO) at the forefront of a major crackdown on licence hoarders, fraudsters, and illegal miners. This move is part of a broader strategy to reposition the sector as a key driver of economic diversification, aiming to attract credible local and foreign investors.
In a recent live conversation on the social media platform X, the Director-General of the MCO, Engineer Obadiah Nkom, revealed that the agency has revoked a significant number of mineral titles. He disclosed that the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development had reason to clear or revoke nearly 4,709 mineral licenses, including expired titles, refused applications where fees were not paid, and notifications of grants that applicants failed to honour. This aggressive cleaning exercise is aimed at creating space for genuine investors who are willing to engage in exploration and value-addition. Nkom stated that this "use it or lose it" policy is not just a threat but a practice, noting that the MCO has a 100% success rate in litigations because its actions are compliant with the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007.
Furthering its commitment to rooting out illicit activities, the MCO has established a new partnership with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Nkom emphasised the importance of this collaboration for combating economic and financial crimes within the sector and ensuring a secure and compliant operating environment. The partnership will involve intelligence sharing and building a united front against illicit activities that undermine the sector's integrity. This is also a direct response to the activities of impostors who deceive unsuspecting investors by posing as MCO staff or agents, a menace Nkom vowed to tackle with the help of security agencies.
The MCO has also reinforced its digital and procedural safeguards to protect investors. The agency's electronic cadastre system is now integrated with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to verify in real-time whether a company is legally registered before a licence application can proceed. Additionally, applicants are now required to provide bank statements and letters to demonstrate their financial capacity, further weeding out speculators. The DG also clarified that holding a valid licence does not grant the right to mine minerals outside the specific licence, and doing so automatically makes an operator an illegal miner, subject to prosecution.