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… Says digital reforms tripling revenue, driving transparency
From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, on Friday declared that digita reforms are now delivering “unprecedented revenue, transparency and operational efficiency” across Nigeria’s mining industry, as he officially launched the OneGov Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS) at the Mining Cadastre Office (MCO) in Abuja.
The high-profile event, attended by top government officials and industry stakeholders, marked the MCO as the first agency under the Ministry to fully deploy the intelligent, sovereign platform designed to eliminate paperwork, secure sensitive documents, streamline workflow and enhance nationwide service delivery.
Describing the launch as “a monumental step that reflects the new colours of success, progress and efficiency in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector,” Alake said the achievement was a testament to the sweeping reforms introduced since he assumed office.
“What the MCO has achieved today is symptomatic of the entire sector. We have made strident strides across every part of the solid minerals ecosystem,” he said.
The Minister revealed that revenue in the sector had surged dramatically due to digitisation, strict enforcement, and a revamped licensing process.
“When we came in, revenue was about ₦6 billion. We doubled that within a year. And this year, we are almost tripling it,” he told the audience.
He added that total sector earnings jumped from ₦28 billion in 2024 to over ₦50 billion in 2025, a leap he attributed to transparency-driven reforms and strong oversight.
Giving a personal testimony, Dr. Alake recalled the chaos of pre-digital operations.
“My office used to be filled with mountains of files. A visitor and I could barely see each other. Today, with digitisation, I work from anywhere in the world with my iPad and iPhone. No files. No delays.”
He praised the MCO for dismantling bottlenecks and boosting investor confidence, describing the transformation as a model for other agencies.
But the Minister warned that technology must be matched with discipline and a modern mindset.
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“If our mental development does not match physical development, there will be chaos. We need a national mental reorientation. Without the right attitude, we will damage the tools and defeat the purpose.
Alake commended the MCO leadership for combining innovation with courage and strong administrative structures.
He also saluted Galaxy Backbone for powering the OneGov infrastructure but cautioned the agency to guarantee uninterrupted internet access.
“The system must not fail. When the internet goes down, workflow collapses. That cannot continue,” he warned.
Permanent Secretary, Engr. Faruk Yusuf Yabo, hailed the MCO as a trailblazer in the era of digital governance.
“As the first department to go live, the MCO is raising the standard and providing a model for others,” he said.
Describing the OneGov ECMS as a “secure, intelligent digital backbone capable of transforming governance,” Yabo noted that every officer is now equipped to work smarter, faster and more securely.
Earlier in his welcome address, the MCO Director General, Engr. Obadiah Simon Nkom, called the go-live a historic turning point.
He disclosed that MCO’s revenue increased from ₦6.17 billion in 2023 to ₦12 billion in 2024, and has already surpassed ₦30 billion in 2025, crediting the success to strong ministerial backing and compliance-driven digital reforms.
Nkom added that the agency’s achievements had earned it national recognition, including the NIRA Award for Best Digital and Innovation Agency.
Representing Galaxy Backbone, Gana Nsuba praised the MCO for “raising the bar” and aligning with the Federal Government’s OneGov Cloud vision.
Galaxy Backbone pledged continuous training and technical support to fully optimise the ECMS.
