By Barbara Nwaiwu
Assessors from the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) have commended Nigeria for improving systematic disclosures in the extractive sector, saying the progress has enhanced access to information and supported greater transparency.
The commendation was given during a debriefing session with the senior management team of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) at the end of a five-day in-country validation mission held from August 10 to 14.
Obiageli Onuora, Director of Communications and Stakeholders Management at NEITI, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
The mission team comprised Riley Zecca, who led the mission, Jessica Sanchez and Gilbert Makore, EITI Africa Country Director.
Zecca commended the breadth and quality of contributions from stakeholders during the validation exercise and urged Nigeria to sustain the progress by institutionalising improved systematic disclosures.
He said the disclosures should support real-time transparency, timely publication of accessible data and greater accountability.
He also commended NEITI for coordinating the validation consultations, noting that consistent systematic disclosures had improved access to information and enabled the mission to assess Nigeria’s progress with confidence.
Zecca said the draft validation report would be shared with the NEITI Board within three weeks, after which Nigeria would have one month to respond. He added that the final validation report would be presented at the EITI Global Conference scheduled for October in Brussels.
Makore urged Nigeria to view the validation process positively, describing it as the backbone of EITI implementation. He particularly commended the participation of the National Assembly, describing the engagement as unique and innovative.
“The executive session with the National Assembly and the public hearing on the NEITI industry reports demonstrated Nigeria’s commitment to open, inclusive dialogue,” he said.
The Executive Secretary of NEITI, Musa Adar, described the conclusion of the mission as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s validation journey.
Adar said the exercise went beyond a compliance check by providing an opportunity to assess achievements, address challenges and accelerate reforms in natural resource governance.
“The validation has provided a platform to showcase progress in implementing the EITI Standard and to engage constructively with stakeholders and the EITI International Secretariat,” he said.
He reaffirmed NEITI’s commitment to working with government institutions, companies, civil society and host communities to ensure that the validation findings translated into sustained reforms.
During the mission, the assessors met with Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the NEITI Board, George Akume; Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning, Doris Uzoka-Anite; and NNPC Ltd. Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari.
They also engaged relevant National Assembly committees led by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Ibrahim Dankwambo, as well as anti-corruption and governance institutions including the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, National Human Rights Commission and the Technical Unit on Governance and Anti-Corruption Reforms.
Discussions with NNPC Ltd. focused on its role as an EITI supporting company, including anti-corruption policies, systematic disclosures, contract transparency and commodity trading transparency.
The civil society consultations involved representatives of NEITI’s Civil Society Steering Committee, Civil Society Strategic Think Tank, Civil Society Selection Committee and other civil society organisations, alongside host community representatives from Rivers and Zamfara states.
Nigeria’s 2026 EITI Validation Exercise commenced on July 1 following the submission of validation templates covering transparency, stakeholder engagement, outcomes and impact.
The in-country consultations from August 10 to 14 provided insights into Nigeria’s progress and areas requiring deeper implementation of the EITI Standard.
