By Peter Omopo
Nigeria’s electronic Mining Cadastre Plus (eMC+) system has received high praise from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which described it as a model for regional integration, transparency, and digital innovation in the extractive sector.
A delegation of ECOWAS technical experts made the commendation on Friday during a high-level visit to the Mining Cadastre Office (MCO) in Abuja. The team lauded Nigeria’s web-based mineral title management system as an exemplary platform that could be replicated across the West African region.
Leader of the delegation and regional mining systems coordinator, William Badieo, said Nigeria’s digitised approach to mineral licensing has set a benchmark for other ECOWAS member states. He noted that the visit was part of efforts to conclude a second feasibility study for the establishment of a regional Geo-Extractive Observatory and Key Distance System.
“Nigeria is far ahead. What we witnessed is a practical demonstration of a fully functional, transparent, and accessible digital system,” Badieo said, adding that the country’s eMC+ platform aligns seamlessly with ECOWAS’s goals of harmonisation and integration in extractive governance.
He emphasised that the Nigerian system provides a strong foundation for a unified regional mining cadastre, which would facilitate investor access and data transparency across West Africa.
Director-General of the MCO, Obadiah Simon Nkom, described the ECOWAS delegation’s visit as a recognition of Nigeria’s leadership in mining sector reform and digital transformation.
Nkom explained that the digital shift was anchored on the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act of 2007, which provided the framework for transitioning from manual processes to a sophisticated Geographic Information System (GIS)-enabled, web-based platform.
“This synergy will ensure any investor coming into the ECOWAS region can access harmonised, transparent data using GIS platforms,” Nkom said.
The endorsement marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s drive to modernise its mining sector and position itself as a digital leader within the region.
