The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has announced plans to release its reports on the oil, gas, and solid minerals industries for the fiscal year 2022/2023 on September 24.
Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, the Executive Secretary of NEITI, shared this information during the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) media briefing in Abuja.
Emphasizing NEITI’s focus on content, Orji stated that the separate reports for each sector would be presented simultaneously, ensuring the availability of current and globally acknowledged reliable data.
The international delegation from EITI, led by Dr. Bady Balde, Deputy Executive Director of the Global EITI Secretariat, is in Nigeria to assess NEITI’s post-validation plans and provide support for EITI implementation.
Despite facing local challenges, including delays related to resettlement, Orji assured that these challenges had been resolved, and the reports would be published in September. He highlighted the ongoing engagement with the National Assembly to review the NEITI Act and align it with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA 2021) and current economic priorities.
The visit of EITI’s international partners aims to facilitate knowledge sharing, capacity building, and addressing issues such as energy transition, contract transparency, beneficial ownership, and other emerging global EITI standards. Orji expressed the desire to make NEITI less dependent on government funding and explore opportunities for the reports to support government funding.
Dr. Bady Balde stressed the importance of timely data publication to cover current relevant issues, expressing dissatisfaction with the publication of old data. Balde called for more technical assistance, engagement, and transparency in NEITI’s operations, supporting the amendment of NEITI’s act to address imperfections in the law.
