Strengthening Partnerships to Combat Corruption in Nigeria’s Extractive Industries
Dr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI), has emphasized the urgent need for stronger partnerships and collaborations among stakeholders to tackle corruption in Nigeria’s extractive industries. This call was made during the United Nations International Anti-Corruption Day event in Abuja, where Dr Orji emphasized the crucial importance of working together towards sustainable solutions to the prevalent corruption issues in the country.
Dr Orji highlighted the significance of stakeholders uniting to devise efficient and sustainable strategies to combat corruption within the extractive industries. He reiterated NEITI’s unwavering commitment to furnishing credible information and data, with the aim of reducing, if not eradicating, corruption within Nigeria’s governance of the extractive sector. Dr Orji also recommended the adoption of the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) model of multi-stakeholder consensus building and oversight, as a method to introduce accountability mechanisms within governance institutions.
The head of NEITI also drew attention to Nigeria’s lag in the fight against corruption, particularly in the oil, gas, and mining sectors as indicated by the Corruption Perception Index 2023 ranking. Dr Orji emphasized the substantial loss of crude oil and petroleum products due to corruption in these sectors, resulting in significant financial losses for the country. He further underscored NEITI’s pivotal contribution to combating corruption, citing independent reports that have led to reforms within the extractive sector and the recovery of over 7.2 billion dollars in revenue through collaborative efforts with different agencies.
Additionally, the executive secretary disclosed that NEITI’s recent global assessment by the EITI has endorsed the credibility of NEITI’s report. However, he stressed the necessity to review commitments and approaches in the fight against corruption, along with a call for a dedicated workshop to evaluate the effectiveness of the Inter-Agency Task Team (IATT) over the years.
In accordance with Dr Orji’s remarks, Oliver Stolpe, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Country Representative in Nigeria, underlined the importance of a comprehensive framework and multi-sectoral approach to combat corruption. Stolpe emphasized the need to comprehend the underlying issues that contribute to corruption practices and the crucial role of both citizens and the government in establishing policies that deter corruption.
The event also included insights from Jane Onwumere, the Head of the Technical Unit on Governance and Anti-Corruption Reforms (TUGAR), who stressed the imperative of united efforts in combatting corruption to ensure sustainable development.
The focal point of the conference was to promote transparency, strengthen accountability institutions, and address the shortcomings in integrity and transparency within both government and non-governmental organizations. Stakeholders at the event reaffirmed their commitment to the fight against corruption and pledged to collaborate in sharing credible information and data to reduce corruption within Nigeria’s extractive sectors.
In conclusion, the conference underscored the significance of collaboration and partnerships among stakeholders to effectively and sustainably combat corruption. The unified approach to addressing corruption within Nigeria’s extractive industries is paramount for promoting transparency, accountability, and the overall development of the country.
Source:
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), www.nannews.ng
