By Bassey Udo
As the immediate past Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Dr Orji Ogbonanya Orji, proceeds on his pre-exit vacation, his newly appointed successor, Musa Sarkin Adar, on Tuesday officially assumed office in Abuja.
Recently, Orji submitted the mandatory three-month notice to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OAGF) before proceeding on the vacation prior to the terminal date of his five-year tenure on February 19, 2026.
Meanwhile, Adar, who was formally received at NEITI House in Abuja by NEITI management and staff, pledged during his maiden staff meeting that he would strive to leverage on his extensive legislative and oversight experience to strengthen NEITI’s visibility, institutional relevance, and impact during his tenure.
NEITI’s mandate, he said, must be better understood across the country, noting that he was aware of the reputation NEITI has built for itself as a beacon of openness in Nigeria’s extractive industries.
Adar acknowledged the impact of NEITI over the years, saying its reports have shaped policies, influenced reforms, and strengthened public trust, pointing out that the journey ahead demands greater effort, particularly with Nigeria’s upcoming validation as a member of the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) scheduled for July 2026.
He used the meeting to outline his key priority programmes as the new Executive Secretary to include the amendment of the NEITI Act 2007, pointing out that the current Act does not provide NEITI with the institutional authority and capacity required to function optimally.
A review of the Act, he noted, was essential to empower the NEITI with stronger legal tools to enforce compliance with the findings and recommendations in its audit reports, deepen reforms, and drive transparency and accountability across the extractive sector.
Recalling his long-standing engagement with the NEITI, Adar said during his 16 years in the National Assembly, including when he served as the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum (Upstream), NEITI was among the agencies under his legislative oversight.
Adar reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that NEITI continues to publish accurate, credible, and accessible reports, while strengthening mechanisms to prevent extractive revenues from being lost to inefficiency or corruption in the system.
Also, the new Executive Secretary said during his tenure, he would develop clear strategies that would support the government to optimize Nigeria’s vast mineral endowments through beneficiation processes, thereby ensuring greater value addition and sustainable economic growth.
He pledged to invest in staff capacity development, while fostering stronger collaboration with the government, civil society, the media, industry stakeholders, the global EITI, and development partners.
“NEITI staff are the heart of this great agency,” he noted. “I will invest in staff growth and development, and provide the tools they need to work with to realise the mandate of the agency as well as create the enabling environment where excellence would thrive.”
Welcoming the new Executive Secretary on behalf of management and staff, the Director of Policy, Planning and Strategy, Dr. Dieter Bassi, expressed management’s confidence in his leadership.
“We look forward to your insights, innovative strategies, and the positive impact you will bring to the NEITI family. Your wealth of experience and visionary approach align perfectly with NEITI’s mission and values,” Dr. Bassi told the new Executive Secretary.
Until his appointment, Musa Sarkin Adar served as the Chairman of the Board of the Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority. He is a seasoned politician and public servant who played a key role in the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and sponsored several motions and bills focused on education, security and infrastructure development.
