The present invention relates to a novel composite metal oxide catalyst, a method of making the catalyst, and a process for producing synthesis gas using the catalyst. The catalyst may be a nickel and cobalt based dual-active component composite metal oxide catalyst. The catalyst may be used to produce synthesis gas by the carbon dioxide reforming reaction of methane. The catalyst on an anhydrous basis after calcinations has the empirical formula: M a m + ⁢ N b n + ⁢ Al c 3 + ⁢ Mg d 2 + ⁢ O ( am 2 + bn 2 + 3 2 ⁢ c + d ) Mm+ and Nn+ are two transition metals serving as dual-active components and selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, Fe, Mn, Mo, Cu, Zn or mixtures thereof, a+b+c+d=1, and 0.001≦a≦0.8, 0.001≦b≦0.8, 0.1≦c≦0.99, 0.01≦d≦0.99.