ECOWAS Applauds Nigeria’s eMC Mining Cadastre Platform Lauds Leadership in Regional Digital Integration

Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

A delegation of technical experts from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has commended Nigeria’s electronic Mining Cadastre Plus (eMC+) system, describing it as a model for digital transformation and transparency in the region’s extractive sector.

The experts visited Nigeria to observe the real-time operations of the eMC+ platform, which became fully digital in November 2022. The system has modernized mining title administration by enabling remote applications, improving transparency, and increasing revenue efficiency.
Director General of the Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office (MCO), Engr. Obadiah Nkom, said the visit underscores Nigeria’s growing influence in digital governance. “This is not just a visit to the Cadastre Office; it’s recognition of Nigeria’s leadership in driving digital reform in the mining sector,” he said.

He added that Nigeria’s reforms go beyond revenue generation. “We’re building transparency, trust, and investor confidence. Today, we generate in one month what used to take a year,” Nkom said, noting the importance of harmonizing digital systems across ECOWAS.

ECOWAS representative Mr. William Badieo praised the Nigerian government and the MCO for setting a regional benchmark. “Nigeria is clearly setting the pace. What we’ve seen here is impressive and aligns with ECOWAS’s vision for cooperation, harmonization, and integration,” he said.

Badieo disclosed that a Geo-Extractive Observatory is in development to link national cadastral systems. “Our goal is to connect all member states through a common platform. Nigeria’s eMC+ is a perfect example of what’s possible,” he added.

Mr. Madu Hassan Fika, Chief Geologist at Nigeria’s Ministry of Petroleum, described the eMC+ as “an eye-opener.” He said, “I didn’t expect such sophistication. This has changed my perception of Nigeria’s digital capacity in the mining sector.”

Also speaking, Mr. Eugene Norman, Head of Sierra Leone’s Mining Cadastre Office, emphasized the importance of collaboration. “We may use different systems, but peer learning from Nigeria’s experience will help us reach a common standard and build investor trust across the region,” he said.