We are bringing foreign investments into mining sector to generate funds – DG
By Vivian Emoni
The Director-General of Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office (MCO), Mr Obadiah Nkom, has said the office is committed to bringing more foreign investments into the sector to generate funds in the country.
Nkom said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.
He said that the effort to bring more foreign investments would enhance development as well as create job opportunities for youths in the country.
“No matter how the mining cadastre is developed, it must be attractive enough to bring in foreign investors.
“These are aimed at improving the mining sector, the economy and creating job opportunities for the youths and Nigerians at large.
“Therefore, we are not only adopting the system, but also knowing that the system belongs to the public, for it to be beneficial,” he said.
Nkom said that there was a mandate in the mining cadastre that enables the agency to issue licences to people.
He said as soon as licences are issued to stakeholders, the licence inspectorate would monitor the activities to ensure efficient productions, royalties, safety of health of people and environment.
He said that the agency is working toward ensuring transparency and integrity, indicating that these are the effective and efficient tools in the sector.
He said that the sector aims to ensure that mineral titles are issued in the most efficient and effective manner.
“The commitment will enhance strong service delivery in the best way for the growth and development of the mining sector at the end of the day,” he said.
Nkom said that the office had opened an online system to ensure that a good number of people submit their applications for mineral titles.
He said that the agency needs to have enough time to process the applications submitted for approval.
He said that the statistics of all the activities are not hidden, adding that investors should adopt and adapt themselves to the system for effective service delivery.
He said that the MCO issues proper notice to people who engage in unauthorised mining activities, adding that the office gives penalties as part of warning to desist from such activity.
According to him, the procedure for issuing penalties is either through registered post which is a 30-day post to the person’s known address by gazette.
“Meanwhile, the victims must be properly notified before slamming penalties on them.
“If the victim refuses to adhere after the 30-day post on three national newspapers, then the victim will be issued with revocation.
“The office is making sure that it continues to encourage people to get licences by making the process easy, less cumbersome as well as achieving better and efficient working relations in the sector. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Vincent Obi
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