ECOWAS Experts To Learn From Nigeria’s Digital Cadastre Administration

A delegation of ECOWAS technical experts has praised Nigeria’s electronic Mining Cadastre Plus (eMC+) system, highlighting it as a groundbreaking model for digital innovation and transparency in West Africa’s extractive sector.

The experts visited Nigeria yesterday to observe the eMC+ system’s real-time operation, which has been in operation since 1 November 2022. The delegation’s visit underscores Nigeria’s leadership in advancing regional integration through digital reforms.

The ECOWAS delegation, led by Mr William Badu, commended Nigeria for its leadership, stressing that the eMC+ system serves as a benchmark for other countries.

Badu noted that Nigeria is at the forefront of digital transformation in the extractive industry, with plans to replicate this success across West Africa. He also mentioned ongoing efforts to develop a regional Geo-Extractive Observatory and a standardised interface for connecting national cadastre systems.

“We have seen significant progress at the Mining Cadastre Office here in Abuja. All our member states can learn a great deal from Nigeria’s approach.

“Having visited Nigeria, member states with less developed systems can now emulate this model. Nigeria will take the lead in shaping a regional platform that will promote transparency, improve data accessibility, and attract investment,” he said.

Fika further noted that a regional system would amplify Nigeria’s achievements, drawing global attention and increased investment to its mining sector.

For his part, Eugene Norman, Manager of the Mining Cadastre Office in Sierra Leone, emphasised the importance of peer-to-peer learning within the region.

“As West Africans, we’re working towards a geo-observability and mining cadastre system. It’s important to learn from Nigeria’s experience—what has worked, what hasn’t, and how we can replicate success,” Norman said.

Similarly, William Badieo, Head of the ECOWAS Delegation, stated that the visit was a follow-up to an earlier feasibility report confirming the viability of a regional system.

“We’ve moved beyond theory. This second phase is focused on ensuring each member state meets minimum operational standards before full integration,” he explained.

He praised Nigeria’s eMC+ platform as a practical and transparent solution: “It’s not just functional, it’s exemplary.”

In his response, the Director-General of Nigeria’s Mining Cadastre Office (MCO), Engr. Obadiah S. Nkom, expressed appreciation for the high-level visit, emphasising that Nigeria’s reforms are designed to foster a more transparent and investor-friendly mining environment.

Nkom described the eMC+ system as an essential step in modernising the country’s mining title administration, noting the transition from an analogue to a fully digital platform. He outlined the reforms initiated after the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act of 2007, which led to the development of a computerised cadastre system that now operates on a robust web-based platform. The eMC+ system enables faster processing, with the MCO now generating in one month what once took a year.

“This initiative is not just about revenue generation; it’s about transparency and making Nigeria’s mining sector more attractive to investors,” Nkom added.

He also highlighted the importance of harmonising Geographic Information System (GIS) platforms across ECOWAS member states to simplify the investment process in the region.

The visit marks a significant milestone in the push for regional integration. It is expected to lead to the establishment of a centralised extractive data platform, with Nigeria’s eMC+ system serving as a foundational model.

The experts agreed that the system’s success in Nigeria offers valuable lessons for other ECOWAS member states, helping to raise standards and attract further investment to the region’s mining sector.

The highlight of the event was the practical demonstration of the e-portal’s operations in processing licence applications and other activities.