By SUNDAY ABBA, Abuja
The Nigerian Senate has pledged its unwaivering support for the Mining Cadastral Office (MCO) and indeed the federal government’s effort at unlocking the rich potentials of the Mining sector.
Senate Committee Chairman on Solid Minerals Development Engr Osita Ngwu who disclosed while on a familiarisation visit to the MCO, stressed the need for all industry stakeholders to work together to surmount challenges facing the sector and unlock the potentials for inclusive prosperity.
He commended the MCO for defying challenges to achieve continuous increase in revenue and to migrate its activities online with its recently launched electronic mining cadastre plus (eMC+), especially as the federal government, in driving home its economic diversification and Renewed Hope agenda, is focusing on the mining sector for unfettered economic development.
“The government is looking at gas exploration and solid mineral but we know the challenges of the solid mineral industry; putting all this challenges together, we are going to look at the legislative framework and get the system working,” he said.
Pledging the National Assembly’s
unfailing support for, and partnership with, with the agency, the senator said, “One thing for sure is that we are going to completely look at the system together such that we look at the challenges, so one thing you can be assured of is our support to make progress, if we don’t make progress the country doesn’t make progress”.
“There will be meetings that we are all going to do that will require us to make contributions. The bottom line is for us to achieve the set objectives by supporting the government”.
During his presentation earlier, Director General (DG) of the MCO Engr Obadiah Simon Nkom said that major reforms carried out under his watch such as migrating to a web-based (real time) mineral title administration system has boosted to investor’s confidence as more investors, banking on the inherent transparency involved, are seeking to invest in the sector.
He said the expansion in organisational structure which led to the establishment and operation of zonal offices with departments and personnel the in six geopolitical zones of the country has also boosted efficiency.
The DG solicited the assistance and inputs of the National Assembly towards improving the operations of the Office further with a view to transforming the mining sector for national development, a statement signed by the head of Media and Public Relations, Folasade Fatoke, said.
SUMMIT POST reports that following the enactment of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007, the Mining Cadastre Office was established, with a mandate to administer and manage mineral titles in the country.