In recent days, an alarming attempt to tarnish the reputation of the Director General of the Mining Cadastre Office (MCO) has surfaced through a series of coordinated media attacks and unverified claims. Engr. Obadiah Simon Nkom, Director General of the Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office (MCO), stands as a sterling exception.

Recently, attempts have been made to malign his reputation through a wave of unsubstantiated accusations and thinly veiled blackmail. As an independent investigative reporter deeply familiar with Nigeria’s mining sector, I have conducted a thorough, fact-based inquiry into these claims—and what I found is nothing short of a deliberate smear campaign orchestrated by self-serving interests.

Engr. Nkom, who was reappointed for a second term in January 2023, has led the MCO with a rare blend of transparency, technical expertise, and reformist zeal. Under his watch, the MCO has recorded significant milestones that position it as one of Nigeria’s most efficiently run agencies.

Among Engr. Nkom’s most notable achievements is the 86% increase in revenue generation, with over ₦8.9 billion generated between 2019 and 2021. This remarkable growth reflects his commitment to enhancing regulatory oversight and blocking revenue leakages.

His administration has also successfully automated the mining cadastre system, transitioning from manual processes to an online, real-time platform for mineral title administration and management.

This move not only improved efficiency but also eliminated many avenues for corruption and manipulation.

In recognition of this digital leap, the MCO was awarded the Best Federal Government Agency in the 2022 Digital Innovation Awards a testament to Nkom’s vision and execution.

Further solidifying his legacy, the office launched the Electronic Mining Cadastral Plus (eMC+) platform, a revolutionary tool that has modernized mineral title processing, increased accessibility, and reduced bureaucratic bottlenecks.

Against this backdrop of reform and measurable progress, it becomes obvious why certain individuals and companies particularly those unwilling to meet their legal obligations would resort to character assassination.

My investigation shows that the recent attacks on the DG originate from a mining company whose license was lawfully revoked for non-payment of required annual service fees. Instead of accepting responsibility and following due process, the company has resorted to sponsoring false reports aimed at pressuring the MCO to reverse its rightful decision.

Where is the evidence of wrongdoing by Engr. Nkom? Those levelling accusations have not presented a single verified document, recording, or correspondence. No petition has been filed with anti-corruption agencies, no court case, no whistleblower claim backed by facts just loud headlines and recycled slander.

And here lies a pressing concern, Journalism is a noble profession, rooted in truth, verification, and public interest. When journalists or those claiming to be begin to act as agents of corporate vendettas without disclosing sources, offering evidence, or observing basic journalistic due diligence, they blur the line between investigative reporting and orchestrated defamation.

We must ask the hard questions

If there are indeed acts of corruption, where is the proof?

Why have none of these aggrieved parties approached oversight bodies or the courts?

Why are media outlets publishing serious allegations without attaching documents, interviews, or counter-statements from the accused party?

A journalist should never attack another journalist, but neither should any journalist lend their pen to blackmail or personal agendas. If there are legitimate grievances, let them be brought forward in clear terms with supporting documentation not veiled threats and strategic misinformation campaigns.

Despite the noise, the facts remain. Over 80–90% of all transition-related system issues at the MCO have already been resolved.

The few remaining pending applications are those in which applicants have failed to meet regulatory requirements. Engr. Nkom has never bent rules to favour anyone, nor has he compromised standards for political or personal gain.

In the mining sector, he is widely regarded as a disciplined technocrat, a man whose track record for ethical leadership is well established. His stance against favoritism and shortcuts is precisely why he is now under attack by those who see due process as an inconvenience.

This is not whistleblowing; this is retaliation by those who have been held to account. And it is crucial for Nigerians, especially stakeholders in the extractive industries, to distinguish fact from fiction.

If we are truly serious about reforming our institutions, we must protect principled public servants like Engr. Nkom, not allow them to be destroyed by baseless allegations and media coercion. Let evidence not propaganda be our compass, Let integrity not bitterness guide our judgments.

As an independent investigative reporter and as a nation, we must not be silent when integrity is under siege. The future of Nigeria’s mining sector depends on leaders who are bold enough to say “no” when rules are broken and resilient enough to stand, even when falsely accused.