The Director-General of the Mining Cadastre Office (MCO), Obadiah Nkom, has praised the Minister of Solid Minerals Development’s seven-point agenda, saying recent digital reforms have repositioned Nigeria’s mining sector and significantly boosted revenue.
Nkom said revenue generated by the cadastre office has risen from about N12 billion to over N30 billion following the implementation of wide-ranging reforms anchored on digital governance.
He spoke at the launch of the OneGov Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS), according to a statement issued by the MCO management on Monday.
The OneGov ECMS is a sovereign digital platform designed to eliminate paperwork, enhance document security, streamline workflows and improve service delivery across government institutions.
Nkom said the ministry was the first to fully deploy the system, describing the development as a major milestone for the solid minerals sector and Nigeria’s public service.
“This occasion is a testament to the Federal Government’s commitment to policies that move the country forward. It represents a bold step in Nigeria’s digital transformation journey,” he said.
Tracing the evolution of the Mining Cadastre Office’s digital transition, Nkom explained that the agency began its reform process over three years ago, culminating in its full migration to an online system on November 1, 2025.
He noted that while moving operations online was a significant achievement, aligning fully with government policy — particularly the shift to a paperless public service — remains the core objective.
The MCO DG credited the minister’s seven-point agenda for accelerating reforms and delivering measurable results across the sector.
“These are not mere policy statements. The indicators are clear. The pace of progress since the Honourable Minister assumed office has been remarkable,” he said.
He also commended the ministry’s leadership, including the Permanent Secretary, who was recently appointed Chairman of Permanent Secretaries for the OneGov Cloud Programme and the ECMS.
According to Nkom, the ministry’s performance was further recognised when it won a gold medal for best-performing agency at the recent Head of Service exhibition.
He explained that the government’s paperless initiative is anchored on the .ng domain, which he described as one of the most secure globally and a critical component of the .gov cloud infrastructure.
Highlighting the MCO’s earlier role in advancing digital governance, Nkom recalled that in 2022, the agency won the Nigerian Internet Registration Association award for Best Innovation and Digitalisation Agency, defeating institutions such as the Federal Inland Revenue Service, the Nigerian Communications Commission and the National Pension Commission.
On revenue performance, Nkom said the mining sector has recorded steady and unprecedented growth in recent years.
“In 2023, revenue rose to N6.7 billion from about N4 billion the previous year. With the appointment of the current minister, it increased to N12 billion, and today, we have generated over N30 billion,” he said.
He attributed the revenue surge to stricter enforcement, improved operational efficiency and the minister’s firm stance on compliance.
Beyond revenue growth, Nkom said the Mining Cadastre Office has received multiple recognitions, including the Bureau of Public Service Reforms award for digitalisation in 2023 and commendations from the Code of Conduct Bureau.
He assured that the agency would sustain the reform momentum, adding that recent achievements serve as motivation to further strengthen transparency and service delivery.
The Federal Government has identified the mining sector as a critical pillar of economic diversification, with ongoing reforms aimed at boosting investor confidence, improving transparency and expanding non-oil revenue.
These efforts align with the OneGov initiative and Nigeria’s broader digital governance agenda, which seeks to integrate government operations through shared digital infrastructure and paperless processes.