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

The experts were in Nigeria to observe firsthand the real-time operation of the eMC+ system, which has revolutionized the country’s mining title administration since it migrated to a fully digital platform on November 1, 2022.

While receiving the delegation, the Director General of the Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office (MCO), Engr. Obadiah S. Nkom expressed deep appreciation for the high-powered visit.

Nkom emphasized the importance of regional synergy, noting that harmonizing Geographic Information System (GIS) platforms across ECOWAS member states would simplify investment processes in the West African mining sector.

He reaffirmed the MCO’s commitment to supporting other countries in adopting similar systems, stressing that Nigeria’s reforms are not solely revenue-driven but are aimed at making the sector more transparent and investor-friendly.

He said: “I am privileged to have this historic visit by these very powerful technical experts from ECOWAS. It is an honor that demonstrates the growing recognition of Nigeria’s role in leading digital transformation within the region’s extractive sector.

“This visit is not just historic for the Cadastre Office or the mining sector, but for Nigeria as a whole. It is a clear recognition of Nigeria’s leadership in driving digital transformation in the West African extractive industry.”

Tracing Nigeria’s digital transformation journey, Nkom recounted that the reforms began after the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act was enacted in 2007.

“We moved from irregular polygons to cadastre block units, from an analog setup to a computerized system, first on an intranet, and now to a robust web-based platform. Today, we generate in a month what used to take us a year.”

He added that the eMC+ system enhances transparency, supports beneficial ownership disclosures, integrates data on politically exposed persons, and allows remote license applications from anywhere in the world.

Conveying goodwill from the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, Nkom reiterated that the federal government is fully supportive of regional integration and digital reforms in the extractive sector.

He acknowledged the ECOWAS official for his leadership and thanked the African Development Bank for its backing, saying their involvement “shows everything is on the right track.”

In his remarks, the ECOWAS representative who led the delegation, Mr. William Badieo, commended Nigeria’s leadership under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ministers in charge of Petroleum Resources and Solid Minerals Development.

He said the ECOWAS approach to extractive governance is anchored on three pillars: cooperation, harmonization, and integration.

According to Badieo, the ECOWAS Mineral Development Policy, adopted in 2012, alongside the ECOWAS Hydrocarbons Development Policy, has laid the groundwork for stronger regional collaboration.

He disclosed that a Geo-Extractive Observatory and Regional Key Distance System are currently in development to connect national cadastre systems through a standardized interface.