The director-general of the Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office (NMCO), Engr Simon O. Nkom has stated that the organisation has been receiving more applications for mineral titles since it launched its new online technology, tagged Electronic Mining Cadastre System (eMC+) in November 2022.
Speaking to journalists at the sidelines on the organisation’s one-day retreat held by the NMCO for its workers yesterday in Abuja, with the theme: “Repositioning MCO Through Attitude Transformation for Improved Productivity,” Engr Nkom said that 40 percent of the applications for mineral titles received by NMCO since the launch of eMC+ was introduced was online, adding that it was fulfilling the purpose why it was birthed as more and more investors were keying into the online platform.
Speaking on the retreat, Mkom said now that the office has a new digital system, it was important to train the staff on how to handle the operations of the new technology effectively to take the management and administration of mineral titles to a higher level.
“We have a new technology, and if the people do not re-orient themselves, then we are going to have a problem in terms of the process, we are going to have a problem in terms of the new technology that we have.”
“The essence of today’s event, just like the theme captures it, is to reposition the entire mining cadastre to meet up with current challenges. We have a new system that all of you are witnesses to, which is the eMC plus; we have to be able to adapt to it.
“We have to be able to now review our system; we have to do a rethink and be able to now look forward into the coming years. We know where we are coming from. We know where we are, we have to be able to now know where we are going. In view of that, there is a need for the staff to have a retreat, to make it work better.”
On how the system will help in curbing illegal mining in the country, the DG said though it was not the mandate of his agency, however, quicker and more transparent administration of mineral titles can discourage illegal mining, which is where the eMC+ is a game changer.
The director, Internal Affairs, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ahmad Saad Abubakar, who represented the Commission’s chairman, delivered a paper entitled, “Ensuring Corrupt-free Organisation for Excellent Service Delivery”.
He said corruption had defied government’s policies and measures in the past, but that the new technology by NMCO should be put to good use to ensure corrupt-free operations.
“Corruption is probably the most important factor affecting service delivery in Nigeria today. The federal government over the years has introduced several policies and law to tackle the problem of corruption in the public sector such as the EFCC Act 2004, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) Act as well as the Service Delivery Initiative,” yet the problem persist.
He urged the management of the Mining Cadastre Office to effectively carry out their responsibilities as leaders in government to promote a corrupt free environment and ensure that services are delivered timely, fairly, honestly and in a transparent manner.
“Therefore, it is necessary to make full use of the electronic Mining Cadastre System (eMC+), which has the potential to create an environment free of corruption, increase the ease of doing business by reducing the number of human contacts, and increase in effectiveness, transparency, and accountability,” he said.
On his part, the chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, presented a paper entitled: “Entrenching Good Work Ethic and Integrity for Excellent Service Delivery”, where to he told the staff to adhere strictly to ethics of public service for national development.
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