Nigeria Achieves High Score in Global EITI Assessment
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Yesterday, Nigeria successfully completed the final global assessment of the implementation of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) in the country. The announcement was made by the international board of the EITI at its 58th board meeting held in Oslo, Norway and presided over by the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark. Nigeria achieved a commendable overall score of 72 points in the international assessment, which lasted for a period of 11 months.
The assessment focused on three key areas: transparency, stakeholders’ engagement, outcomes, and impacts. According to a statement from the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Nigeria scored 92 points in the outcomes and impacts category, 71.5 points in implementing transparency-driven reforms, and 52.5 points in stakeholders’ engagements.
The international board commended NEITI’s effective implementation of EITI in the country, noting its visible and tangible impacts on extractive industry governance. In particular, NEITI received praise for its robust system for developing work plans for implementation, monitoring and evaluation, dissemination, and outreach.
NEITI’s reports also scored high in data integrity and access, receiving 90 points, signifying that the information and data provided by NEITI reports are credible and globally acknowledged to be comprehensive.
In response to the assessment report, the Executive Secretary of NEITI, Dr. Ogbonnaya Orji, expressed the agency’s commitment to achieving outcomes and impacts that result in visible improvements to the lives of Nigerians and guarantee more revenues for the government.
Despite the positive outcome, NEITI expressed its desire for an even higher score, especially given the support and collaboration from stakeholders and the significant effort put in by NEITI on behalf of the federal government. However, the agency was pleased with the high scores in the areas of data integrity, openness, and quality, as well as substantial contributions to economic growth and development.
NEITI also acknowledged the areas highlighted in the assessment that require improvement, including greater engagement with the government, companies, civil society, and citizens, as well as priority attention to the development of the solid minerals sector and expanding beneficial ownership disclosures.
The absence of the required oversight board as stipulated by the EITI standard was cited as a factor that adversely affected Nigeria’s overall performance in the international assessment. NEITI called for the urgency to reconstitute the National Stakeholders’ Working Committee (NSWG) to address this.
The global EITI has set January 1, 2026 for its next global assessment of Nigeria, during which it expects all corrective actions to have been implemented and strengthened.
Overall, Nigeria’s achievement in the global EITI assessment is a testament to the country’s commitment to transparency and governance in the extractive industry. This recognition from the international community reinforces the importance of credible information and data in support of national development and planning.
As Nigeria continues to work towards further improvement in all areas, the successful implementation of EITI will contribute to the country’s economic growth and the overall well-being of its citizens.
Source:
The Guardian Nigeria
