About the Mining Cadastre Office
The Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office (NMCO) was established in 2007 with the responsibility for the Administration and Management of Mineral Titles in Nigeria in accordance with Section 5 (1) of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007 (the Act).
Who We Are & What We Do
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The Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office (NMCO) was established in 2007 with the responsibility for the Administration and Management of Mineral Titles in Nigeria in accordance with Section 5 (1) of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007 (the Act).
Contact us arrow_forwardOur Mission
Deliver service reliably, effectively and professionally using objective standards and procedures, in accordance with the provisions of the enabling law.
Our Vision
Provide an independent, efficient and transparent Mining Cadastre system which grants and administers mining licences and permits in accordance with best international practices.
Core Values
Guiding principles that define our commitment to transparency, fairness, and excellence in mineral title administration.
Priority
First come first served
Use it or lose it
Licensed activity must be carried out
Objectivity
Based on legally-defined regulations and procedures
Non-discretionary
Same rules for all
Transparency
Open consultation of maps and registers
Security of Tenure
No arbitrary termination before end of title validity
Historical Milestones
Tracking our journey from a departmental unit to an autonomous agency governing Nigeria's extractive future.
Introduction of the modern cadastre system as part of the World Bank-assisted Sustainable Management of Mineral Resources Project.
Enactment of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, establishing MCO as an autonomous body with a distinct mandate.
Launch of the initial online portal for title search, marking the first step towards a fully paperless administration system.
Deployment of the Electronic Mining Cadastre System (eMC+), enabling real-time global title applications and monitoring.
Key Functions
The Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office (NMCO), in addition to any other functions prescribed by or under the Act and the Regulations, performs the following:
Application Consideration
Consider applications for Mineral Titles and permits, issue, suspend and upon written approval of the Minister, revoke any Mineral Title.
Application Modifications
Receive and dispose of applications for modifications (renewal, transfer, relinquishment, consolidation, extension of areas etc.) of Mineral Titles.
General Register
Maintain a general register for all other types of applications where registration of priority is not required.
Chronological Record
Maintain a chronological record of all applications for Mineral Titles in a Priority Register to ascertain priority and registration of applications for exclusive rights on free areas.
Mining Gateway
Participation in local and international mining conferences to promote local and foreign investment in the Non-Oil Mineral Sector, thereby improving revenue generation.
Other Activities
Undertake such other activities reasonably necessary for the purpose of carrying out its duties and responsibilities under the provisions of the Act and the Regulations.
Electronic Mining Cadastre System (eMC+)
In furthering its objective to provide an independent, efficient, transparent, modern Mining Cadastre System, which grants and administers mining licences and permits in accordance with the provisions of the Act and the Regulations and consistent with best international practices; the Nigeria Mining Cadastre System has been upgraded and automated to an electronic Mining Cadastre Plus (eMC+) system.
As part of the upgrade, the NMCO has established Zonal Offices in each of the six (6) geopolitical Zones of the Country. The main functionality of the eMC+ enables fast and seamless online preparation, processing, recording, monitoring of procedures and granting of mineral rights in Nigeria.
Learn More About eMC+ trending_flatGround Rules and Principles of Operation of eMC+
Departments & Units
The Agency has a Director-General/CEO as its head with five departments headed by Directors.
Registry
The registry department is one of the three (3) technical departments of the Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office that is shouldered with the responsibilities of record keeping. The department is the custodian of all mineral title documents, it is responsible for receiving and processing of all modifications on extent mineral title (except enlargement) these applications are renewal abandonment, surrender, consolidations, transfers responsible for generating defaulters list of annual service fee payment, Submission of periodic reports and recommending to the Director-General Mineral Title revocations, monitors and supervises revenue generation of the Agency, preparation of mineral blocks for bidding, gazette and any other duty assigned by the Director-General from time to time.
Concession
The Concession department is one of the Technical departments of the NMCO. The department is responsible for new Mineral Title applications (receiving, processing, granting or refusing the application, preparing and issuance of Licences with specific reference to applications for new Mineral Titles, Permit and applications for the Extension of areas (Enlargement). Staff of the Department also engage in fieldwork, conducting delineation and demarcation of Mineral Title boundaries as may be necessary.
Legal Services
The Unit is responsible for representing the Agency in various courts and conducts the Legal check of documents in support of Mineral titles' applications; e.g. Certificate of Incorporation Form; CAC 2, CAC 7; Attestation, amongst other things. Other duties of the Unit involve; Preparation of Contract Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) as the case may be, Proffering Legal Advisory Services in accordance with the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007 and its Regulations. The unit is also involved in resolving disputes arising from mineral titles.
Human Resources and Finance
The department is divided into two divisions of Administration and Finance. The Administration Division handles Appointment, Promotion and Discipline as well as other staff welfare services; Training, Housing, Pension, Servicom, Health and Sporting activities while the Finance and Accounts Division deals with the management of the financial resources of the office including the Budget Preparation and Revenue Collection.
Monitoring and Coordination
Monitoring and Coordination department of the MCO charged with the responsibility to manage conflicts based on the principle of fairness in line with the provisions of the Act and the Regulations before, during and after completion of mining Project. The department carries out all investigations on their individual merits making use of all relevant and available resource without excluding MCO's data for statutory confirmation of the affected Mineral Titles to accelerate the efficient delivery of the mandate of the department.
Units
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Unit
The ICT Unit of the NMCO has been a service unit ensuring the smooth flow of work. The unit manages the use of the computers, software, network, and ICT infrastructures for the efficient running of the NMCO. It is also in charge of maintaining the website and portal of the agency and managing the office social handles.
Internal Audit Unit
This unit ensures all the accounting transactions of the office are audited and conform to acceptable norms.
Press/Public Relations Unit
The Press/Public Relations Unit is responsible for projecting positive image and bringing to the public domain events, programmes and activities of the Agency. The unit further manages, formulate as well as articulate a dynamic communication strategy and relationship between the Agency, Local and International media.
Protocol Unit
This unit is responsible for coordinating activities in the event of any occasion.
Research, Development and Sustainability Unit
The Unit was created to enhance the capacity of the office through creative and systematic work process guided by sustainability principles within the scope and limitations of the mandate of the Mining Cadastre Office.
Procurement Unit
The unit in saddle with the responsibility of handling the implementation of the PPA 2007 in other to achieve "Due process" i.e., open, fair, efficient and transparent public procurement and public asset disposal.
Zonal Offices
In July 2020, the Six (6) Zonal Mining Cadastre offices were established in the six (6) Geo-Political Zones. Each of the Zonal office is headed by a Senior staff.
Enugu Zonal Office
No. 2 Leak Avenue Opposite State CID, Enugu, GRA, Enugu State.Benin Zonal Office
Federal Secretariat Complex, Aduwawa, Benin City, Edo State.Kaduna Zonal Office
1st Floor National Steel Raw Material Exploration Agency No. 18, Rabbah Road, Malali Kaduna, Kaduna StateMaiduguri Zonal Office
No. 3 Lake Chad Nursery Street, Maiduguri Metropolitan Council Maiduguri, Borno State.Ibadan Zonal Office
Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, Opposite, NNPC Mega Station Adekunwodo/Alobo Area, Ojo Lagos, Expressway, Ibadan, Oyo State.Management Team
Meet the leadership and key officers driving the vision of the Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office.
Minister of Solid Minerals
Henry Dele Alake is a Nigerian journalist, activist and technocrat. He is a former commissioner for Information and Strategy of Lagos State serving from 1999 to 2007.
Director General
Appointed in January 2019 and reappointed in 2023. He holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Mining Engineering from FUTA, an MBA and PGD in Management from University of Maiduguri, and various international certifications.
Management Team
Partner With Us for a Brighter Future
Whether you are an investor, a researcher, or a licensee, the MCO is committed to providing you with the best services in mineral title administration.