The Federal Government is intensifying its clampdown on non-compliant mining companies through a strategic partnership between the Mining Cadastre Office (MCO) and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). The collaboration aims to ensure that only duly registered and fully compliant companies are allowed to operate within Nigeria’s mining sector.
The move follows recent crackdowns on illegal mining activities where unauthorized operators were discovered on licensed sites. According to a statement by MCO’s Head of Press, Grace Amara Okeke, the partnership was formalized during a courtesy visit by CAC Registrar-General Hussaini Magaji to MCO Director-General Obadiah Nkom in Abuja.
Nkom reiterated MCO’s readiness to share data on companies meeting filing requirements and praised CAC’s efforts in promoting transparency. He highlighted recent digital reforms, including the eMC+ system launched in 2022, and revealed that the MCO had generated N10.9 billion in revenue from January to April 2025, reflecting sectoral improvements under Solid Minerals Minister Dele Alake’s leadership.
Magaji emphasized that the CAC and MCO are legally mandated to regulate corporate and mining activities respectively and affirmed that mining licenses will only be granted to firms registered and active in CAC records. He also stressed the importance of timely annual returns as a condition for retaining mining rights.
Both agencies are now working on mechanisms for real-time data exchange, joint enforcement, and transparency-driven governance to sanitize the mining industry.
