The House Committee on Solid Minerals has pledged to provide adequate funds for the Mining Cadastral Office (MCO), to strive in the mining sector.
The Chairman, Jonathan Gaza, made the promise when he led members of the committee for an oversight visit to the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
Gaza who urged the agency to be proactive in its activities and prioritise the welfare of staff to discourage illegal and sharp practices in the sector, commended the agency’s contribution to the national GDP saying that more would have been achieved if they were adequately funded.
Meanwhile, the Director General of the Nigeria Mining Cadastral Office, NMCO, Simon Obadiah Nkom, who said the agency is working tirelessly with NEITI, EFCC and other relevant agencies to make sure activities of the agency is transparent appreciated the committee for its commitment to drive the growth of the sector.
He also disclosed that the issue of consent in the licensing process has generated numerous complaints, and the agency is aware that poorly managed consent could lead to serious conflicts.”
“Instances of overlapping licenses have already sparked tensions in some regions, and if left unchecked, this could escalate into law and order breakdowns. We must ensure that consent protocols are not only clear but are rigorously enforced to avoid these overlaps.”
Nkom cited a case where a license issued in Kaduna inadvertently extended into Nasarawa State due to unclear boundary designations, underscoring the necessity for a more robust licensing framework.
He proposed the establishment of NMCO desk officers in each state to verify land title authenticity directly with local and state land survey departments, which could help prevent future disputes and enhance inter-state collaboration.
The Director-General also raised concerns about the prevalence of illegal mining despite NMCO’s significant licensing activities. “It’s alarming to see the number of licenses we issue, yet illegal mining continues to thrive,” Nkom said.
He attributed the persistence of illegal mining to inadequate funding, which limits NMCO’s enforcement capabilities.
Despite the agency generating over 8 billion naira in revenue by October, its annual appropriation remains only 1 billion naira. Nkom expressed his hope that with increased investment in equipment, staff training, and better operational conditions, NMCO could achieve even higher revenues while ensuring ethical practices within the sector.
“One pressing need is incentivizing our staff adequately to prevent sharp practices and corruption, which arise when employees aren’t properly supported,” Nkom explained.
He highlighted that enhanced working conditions, alongside rigorous oversight, would lead to better productivity and reduce cases of unauthorised licensing practices.
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