NEITI Targets Improved Outcome as Nigeria Prepares for 2026 EITI Validation

The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has reaffirmed the country’s commitment to achieving improved performance in its 2026 validation under the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).

NEITI gave the assurance on Wednesday in Abuja at the opening of its Advocacy Dialogue for Stakeholders on Nigeria’s 2026 EITI Validation, organised with support of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) programme.

EITI Validation is the quality assurance process, an impartial assessment to check if a country’s implementation of the EITI Standard on improved governance and transparency in oil, gas, and mining is effective, driving learning and accountability.

Speaking at the event, Sen. George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman, NEITI National Stakeholders Working Group (NSWG) said the dialogue was paramount as Nigeria grappled with complex economic reforms.

Akume, represented by Mr Dele Ayanleke, National President, Miners Association of Nigeria said the dialogue was coming at a critical moment as Nigeria was navigating fiscal pressures and rising public expectations for accountability in the management of natural resources.

“The extractive sector remains central to Nigeria’s economic stability, revenue mobilisation and long-term development aspirations.

“Yet governance gaps, inefficiencies and transparency deficits have historically limited its full potential,” Akume said.

He said that findings and recommendations from NEITI reports had become important tools driving ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s oil, gas and mining sectors.

He said that the 2023 EITI Standard required countries to go beyond disclosure and use transparency to deliver real reforms and tangible benefits to citizens.

“For Nigeria, this means moving beyond compliance and deploying EITI as a reform instrument to support domestic revenue mobilisation, prudent fiscal management and inclusive governance,” he said.

He also acknowledged the support of development partners, particularly the European Union-International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (EU-IDEA) Programme and the EITI International Secretariat, for their continued collaboration in deepening transparency reforms.

In his remarks, Musa Sarkin-Adar, Executive Secretary, NEITI said Nigeria was determined to improve on its 2023 EITI Validation score of 72 out of 100 points.

Sarkin-Adar, represented by Dieter Bassi, Director, Policy, Planning and Strategy, NEITI said that the EITI had evolved into an outcome-driven credibility test focused on demonstrable reforms and measurable impact on governance.

“The EITI is no longer a narrow checklist. It now demands meaningful stakeholder engagement and tangible reforms that strengthen national governance.

“Nigeria’s next assessment would be conducted using the EITI 2023 Standard, which places strong emphasis on the independent and effective participation of civil society organisations, the media and sub-national actors.

“Nigeria’s 2023 Validation identified gaps requiring urgent action, including strengthening multi-stakeholder engagement, providing structured and safe spaces for civil society participation, improving access to extractive sector data and clearly demonstrating how EITI implementation drives policy and sector reforms.

“NEITI had initiated corrective actions, EITI implementation remained a shared responsibility among government, companies and civil society,” the executive secretary said.

He outlined the dialogue’s objectives to include reviewing progress on corrective actions, identifying outstanding gaps, developing an implementable framework to address challenges and strengthening the role of non-state and sub-national actors in extractive sector governance.

The highlight of the event was the unveiling of the NEITI’s latest Policy Brief titled “Beyond Assent: Pathways for Implementing Nigeria’s New Tax and Revenue Framework” by the NEITI Executive Secretary.

The policy brief aimed at bridging the gap between the passage of tax laws and effective implementation.

 

 

(NAN)