By Bassey Udo
Assessors from the International Secretariat of the Global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) are due in Nigeria from Monday, August 10, as part of the ongoing 2026 Validation exercise, which began on July 1.
The Secretariat of the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), which announced the arrival of the Validation Assessors, the presence of the EITI Mission in Nigeria marks a significant stage in Nigeria’s 2026 EITI Validation process.
The Executive Secretary of NEITI, Musa Sarkin Adar, described the Validation Mission as an important opportunity to showcase Nigeria’s commitment to transparency and accountability in the governance of its extractive industries.
During the Mission, Sarkin-Adar said the Validation Assessors would undertake a comprehensive quality assurance assessment of Nigeria’s performance since the last validation exercise in 2023.
Also, he said before the Mission ends its assignment on August 14, it would hold a series of consultative meetings with key stakeholders, including government institutions, the National Assembly, extractive companies, civil society organisations, development partners, anti-corruption agencies, host communities, the media and other stakeholders.
The meetings are designed to provide the Assessors with diverse perspectives on Nigeria’s implementation of the EITI Standard and ongoing reforms in the country’s extractive sector.
“Nigeria remains firmly committed to the principles of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. We regard the Validation process as an opportunity not only to assess the progress we have made, but also to highlight areas where further reforms can enhance extractive sector governance”, the Executive Secretary said.
He said that NEITI, working in collaboration with the National Stakeholders’ Working Group (NSWG) and other stakeholders, recently concluded extensive preparations for the exercise, including the submission of Nigeria’s Validation documentation and targeted stakeholder engagements in line with the requirements of the 2023 EITI Standard.
Sarkin-Adar expressed confidence that the mission would further strengthen Nigeria’s partnership with the global EITI and reaffirm the country’s commitment to promoting transparency, accountability and prudent management of its natural resources.
Specifically, the Assessors would meet with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, who is also the Chairman of the NEITI Board, George Akume, and the NEITI NSWG, the Ministers of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), NEITI’s Inter-Ministerial Technical Team (IMTT), the Senate Committee on Public Account and other relevant Committees at the National Assembly as well as the Media Initiative for Transparency in Extractive Industries (MITEI) consisting representatives from different media houses in the NEITI process.
Validation is EITI’s independent quality assurance mechanism to assess implementing countries’ performance, in terms of progressive and impactful compliance and adherence to its stipulated standards and principles compliance to strengthen good governance in the management of oil, gas and mining sectors resources.
The exercise evaluates progress made in strengthening transparency, accountability and good governance in the management of oil, gas and mining resources, while identifying opportunities for continuous improvement.
NEITI said the 2026 edition of the Validation exercise would serve as an opportunity to demonstrate the progress Nigeria has made in strengthening extractive sector governance, addressing previous corrective actions and institutionalising reforms that promote transparency and accountability.
In January 2023, Nigeria underwent its fourth validation exercise under the 2019 EITI Standard. Based on the validation report, Nigeria achieved a moderate overall score of 72 points in implementing the EITI and identified specific corrective actions, which Nigeria through NEITI, needs to address before the next assessment which commenced in July 2026.
Nigeria became an implementing country of the EITI in 2004, enacted the NEITI Act in 2007 and has remained one of Africa’s leading implementing countries.
Through NEITI, the country continues to advance reforms that promote openness, strengthen public oversight and improve governance across the extractive industries.
