The Director General of the Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office (NMCO), Engr Obadiah Nkom, has said that closer cooperation with ECOWAS will significantly enhance regional development through the mining sector. Speaking during an official visit by an ECOWAS delegation led by William Baidoe, Nkom highlighted Nigeria’s readiness to share its progress and expertise with neighbouring countries.
He emphasised the need for skilled personnel to harness Nigeria’s abundant mineral resources and explained that the NMCO is already collaborating with financial institutions to improve transparency and attract investment. “The NMCO is not just about generating revenue,” Nkom stated. “It is also about driving national development by securing investments that can transform the sector.”
Nkom applauded the Tinubu administration’s commitment to reforming Nigeria’s mining industry and welcomed ECOWAS officials to study the country’s digital mining cadastre system. “Nigeria is one of the few countries in the region to have transitioned its cadastre system online. This collaboration with ECOWAS will provide a platform to facilitate shared growth and development across West Africa.”
William Baidoe, who heads the ECOWAS delegation, praised Nigeria’s progress, describing the country’s digital mining system as a benchmark for the entire region. “Nigeria is ahead of the curve,” Baidoe noted. “We saw a fully functional, transparent, and accessible system in operation today. It’s not only working—it’s a model to follow.”
Echoing Baidoe’s sentiments, Eugene Norman, head of Sierra Leone’s Mining Cadastre Office, said the visit underscored the importance of regional alignment. “We must learn from Nigeria’s experience—its successes and challenges—to guide mining policies across member states.”
Madu Hassan Fika, a chief geologist with Nigeria’s Ministry of Petroleum, also highlighted the significance of the EMC+ digital system, describing it as an innovation that could strengthen investor confidence across the region.
The visit marked a step forward in promoting synergy among West African nations as they strive to harmonise mining practices and build sustainable economic frameworks driven by natural resource development.