Mr. Obadiah Nkom, Director-General of Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office (MCO) says it is focused on Ease of Doing Business (EoDB ) to provide a strong foundation for mineral sector development.
Nkom made this known on Wednesday in Abuja during the NMO Special Day at the ongoing 16th Abuja International Trade Fair being organized by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI).
The Nigeria MNO is responsible for the administration and management of mineral titles as provided by section 5 (1) of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act (2007).
The Director-General said that Nigeria NMO had adopted and implemented strategies to promote EoDB.
He said it had established standard system e-recording, archiving and thematic mapping areas (protected) from mining activities in Nigeria for integration into mining cadastre digital database.
In a remark, Ms. Victoria Akai, Director-General, ACCI said Licensing was at the heart of mining sector, adding that the positive changes and reforms the agency had introduced accounted for the current boost in mining activities.
“I am particularly elated by the digitalization of the licensing process. This will surely expand direct investment in the nation’s mining sector.
“We must also acknowledge your proactive action of creating zonal offices of the agency to address challenges facing license holders.
“That action has brought services to the doorstep of mining stakeholders across the six geo-political zone of the Federation.
“This innovation is a game changer as it reduced cost and stress of transacting business with the licensing authority,” she said.
She added that it sought closer collaboration with the agency especially as the Chamber also housed the Nigerian Chamber of Mine.
Akai said that the chamber has a strong virile Mining Trade Group which would highly leverage on the agency’s support.
In an address, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), said Nigeria was endowed with vast deposit of mineral resources of high value.
These, he said ranged from industrial metals and precious stones of different kinds which were spread across the 36 states, including the FCT.
However, he said these minerals were not exploited maximally due to poor infrastructure for extraction, processing and transportation, adding that at best, the industry was largely artisanal and output very low in relation to the amount of deposit in the country.
“Mining is intricate to our existence as human beings. It supports our everyday life and that’s why it is very important to give the sector all the attention it requires.
“From the early ages of human development up till now, it has always been people’s ingenuity in harnessing and transforming mineral deposits within their environment that sets them apart from others.
“For this, there is no gainsaying that every great and prosperous nation of the world today can trace its greatness to the development of this all important sector.
“From automobile, construction, medical, agriculture etc., mining has remained the critical source of input materials to these sectors,” he said.
He noted that the NEPZA was keen on the economic diversification agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari and have placed priority on development of the mining industry through Special Economic Zones scheme.
The fair being held at the ACCI ultra modern Trade and Convention Centre with hundreds of standard goods and services on display has in attendance both foreign and local exhibitors. (NAN)
