By Bassey Udo
Nigeria is working to ensure the outcome in next year’s Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) validation exercise will surpass the 2023 performance, the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Musa Sarkin Adar, has said.
Adar spoke at the opening of a two-day advocacy dialogue meeting for stakeholders on the implementation of the global EITI in Abuja.
During the 2023 EITI Validation exercise, Nigeria recorded overall score of 72 points out of 100 in terms of the assessment of its implementation of the EITI standards in the oil and gas sector.
But, the NEITI Executive Secretary told participants in the meeting attended by civil society groups and the media that they were determined to achieve a better outcome come 2026.
The meeting organized by NEITI was sponsored by the European Union and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (EU-IIDEA).
Adar said as part of Nigeria’s preparedness towards the validation exercise, NEITI was undertaking a series of engagements with industry stakeholders as a show of shared commitment to transparency and accountability in the petroleum sector, considered as the lifeblood of the nation’s economy.
The assessment of Nigeria’s performance, he said would be benchmarked against the EITI 2023 Standard, which has since evolved from a narrow checklist into an outcome-oriented credibility test demanding demonstrable reform, meaningful stakeholder engagement, and tangible impact on national governance.
Specifically, he said the 2023 Standard emphasized robust, independent participation from civil society, the media, and sub-national actors, requiring not just representation, but genuine influence on policy and governance outcomes.
Besides, he said Nigeria’s 2023 Validation identified specific gaps that demanded immediate action, including the need to strengthen the country’s multi-stakeholder engagement mechanisms; provide a more structured, predictable and safe space for civil society participation; improve the accessibility and utility of extractive sector data, and clear demonstrate how the EITI process contributes to real, impactful policy and extractive reforms across the country.
To achieve a better outcome in the 2026 validation exercise, Adar said NEITI initiated comprehensive reforms, taking into consideration the EITI process, which is fundamentally built on an indispensable tripartite foundation of government, companies, and civil society.
Ahead of the next validation exercise, the NEITI boss assured that Nigeria would not only be ready for it, but would approach it as a shared responsibility and a collective national outcome.
He reminded the participants in the meeting about their roles as central and foundational pillars in interrogating data, asking difficult questions, and holding institutions accountable, which he noted was a mandatory requirement of the EITI Standard.
Urging participants to join in developing an implementable framework to address the challenges identified and the role of non-state and sub-national actors in advancing Nigeria’s broader reform agenda, Adar said NEITI would provide clarity on the corrective actions identified in Nigeria’s 2023 Validation report, review the progress made, and identify remaining gaps.
The high point of the meeting was the unveiling of NEITI’s latest Policy Brief, titled: “Beyond Assent: Pathways for Implementing Nigeria’s New Tax and Revenue Framework.”
The publication focuses on bridging the gap between policy approval and practical execution, addressing revenue leakages, robust revenue mobilization and improving transparency in revenue management.
The NEITI chief urged civil society and the media to exercise their roles, by tracking the implementation of the new tax laws to ensure the reforms genuinely translate into improved public value and citizen welfare.
Besides, he asked participants to ensure the resolutions from the meeting were harmonised into a comprehensive 2026 Nigeria EITI Workplan to guide its implementation going forward.
The Chairman of the NEITI Board, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, commended NEITI for concerning the meeting, saying the participation of stakeholders underscored the collective commitment to strengthening transparency, accountability, and governance in Nigeria’s extractive sector.
He acknowledged the extractive sector as central to the country’s economic stability, revenue mobilisation, and long-term development aspirations, adding that the dialogue was coming at a critical moment as the country navigates complex economic reforms, fiscal pressures, and heightened public expectations for accountability in the management of its natural resources.
Besides, he said the oil and gas sector remains one experiencing governance gaps, inefficiencies, and lack of transparency, which historically have constrained its full potential.
However, he said the findings and recommendations in NEITI reports have, over the years, been part of the major tools driving the on-going reforms in the oil, gas and mining sectors.
The 2023 EITI Standard, he pointed out, has challenged all implementing countries to not only disclose information, but ensure that transparency drives reform, strengthens institutions, and delivers tangible benefits to citizens.
For Nigeria, the NEITI Board Chairman said the Standard meant going beyond compliance to using EITI as a reform tool that supports domestic revenue mobilisation, prudent fiscal management, and inclusive governance.
He urged participants in the dialogue to proffer ideas on how Nigeria can close revenue leakages, improve sector oversight, and align extractive sector governance with the country’s broader economic reform agenda.
“The strength of NEITI lies in its multi-stakeholder model. Government alone cannot deliver transparency. Civil society, the private sector, sub-national actors, the media, and development partners all have vital roles to play. This is why dialogues such as this are essential to create space for constructive engagement, honest reflection, and shared ownership of reforms,” he said.
