NEITI and EFCC Join Forces to Tackle Corruption in Oil, Gas, and Mining Sectors
The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) have teamed up to combat corruption in the oil, gas, and mining sectors. The collaboration was reaffirmed during a recent visit by NEITI’s management team to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja.
Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, the Executive Secretary of NEITI, and Mr. Ola Olukoyede, the Executive Chairman of EFCC, expressed their commitment to strengthening the partnership between the two agencies. They discussed the importance of sharing information and data, as well as collaborating on investigations and prosecutions related to financial crimes in the extractive industries.
Dr. Orji highlighted the significance of maintaining the existing alliance and cooperation between NEITI and EFCC, particularly in light of the leadership changes at the Commission. He emphasised the need to uphold the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the two organisations in 2021.
Under the MoU, NEITI and EFCC work closely to ensure compliance with NEITI processes and the implementation of NEITI industry reports by companies and government agencies. Dr. Orji expressed the importance of the partnership with EFCC, stating, “We see EFCC as our ally and partner that we cannot afford to play with, our allies are few, with partnership like yours.”
Furthermore, Dr. Orji requested the EFCC’s support in expanding NEITI’s operations to sub-national governments, with plans to establish offices in the six geo-political zones in the near future.
Mr. Ola Olukoyede, the EFCC Chairman, commended NEITI for its dedication, knowledge, and professionalism in fulfilling its mandates. He assured that EFCC is committed to strengthening the existing collaboration with NEITI, emphasising the exchange of data, information, skills, and expertise for effective investigation, prosecution, and conviction.
In addition, Mr. Olukoyede encouraged NEITI to enhance its beneficial ownership register to facilitate access for other anti-corruption agencies, promoting transparency and combating fraud. He also urged NEITI to prioritise public awareness initiatives to educate and inform the public about the agency’s efforts.
The visit concluded with a positive outlook for future cooperation, as both NEITI and EFCC reaffirmed their commitment to working together in the fight against corruption. The Executive Secretary of NEITI was accompanied by his senior management team during the visit.