The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has praised Nigeria’s electronic Mining Cadastre Plus (eMC+) system as a regional benchmark for digital transformation and transparency in the extractive sector.
During a high-level visit to the Mining Cadastre Office (MCO) in Abuja, ECOWAS technical experts described the web-based mineral title management platform as exemplary and recommended its replication across West Africa.
William Badieo, head of the ECOWAS delegation and regional mining systems coordinator, commended Nigeria’s progress, saying, “What we witnessed is a fully functional, transparent, and accessible digital system.”
The visit is part of ECOWAS’s initiative to finalize a second feasibility study for a regional Geo-Extractive Observatory and Key Distance System. Badieo emphasized that Nigeria’s eMC+ system aligns with ECOWAS’s vision of cooperation, harmonisation, and integration in mining governance.
MCO Director-General, Obadiah Simon Nkom, highlighted that Nigeria’s digital journey began with the 2007 Minerals and Mining Act. He noted that the eMC+ platform supports real-time license applications, remote access, and includes features such as beneficial ownership disclosures.
“This is not just about Nigeria; it’s about building a unified system that benefits the entire continent,” Nkom said, crediting the support of Solid Minerals Minister Dele Alake and the African Development Bank.
Madu Fika, Chief Geologist at Nigeria’s Ministry of Petroleum Resources and an ECOWAS delegate, expressed surprise at the system’s sophistication, calling the experience “marvellous.”
Eugene Norman, Head of the Mining Cadastre Office in Sierra Leone, echoed this sentiment, stressing the importance of peer-to-peer learning to raise standards across the region.
Launched in November 2022, Nigeria’s eMC+ system has positioned the country as a leader in digital mining administration. ECOWAS is expected to complete its review and consider adopting the platform as a regional standard for extractive sector data.
